Iconic Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has died at the age of 95.
The two-time Oscar winner was found dead at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon alongside his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, aged 63, and their dog, confirmed Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
In an interview, Mendoza confirmed that there was no immediate indication of foul play. He did not say when the couple might have died or provide a cause of death.
"We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail," said a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico (via BBC News).
"This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."
Hackman retired from acting in 2004 after a career that saw him win two Oscars, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild award.
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He won Best Actor for The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven, as well as landing Oscar nominations for Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang For My Father and Mississippi Burning.
Hackman also played Lex Luthor in three Superman movies in a wide-ranging career that spanned more than six decades, and also included roles in the likes of The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation and Enemy of the State.
His final movie role came in 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport, but he didn't officially retire until a 2008 interview with Reuters, saying he didn't "want to do it any longer".
"I miss the actual acting part of it, as it's what I did for almost 60 years, and I really loved that. But the business for me is very stressful," Hackman added.
"The compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn't feel like I wanted to do it anymore."
Hackman is survived by his children Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
