Gary Sinise is just as shocked as the rest of the world after learning about the death of his former co-star Gene Hackman, Hackman’s wife Betsy and their dog.
The Santa Fe County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office Fox News Digital told Early Thursday morning, “On February 26, 2025, at about 1:45 pm, the representatives of Santa Fe County Sheriff were sent to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park, where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64 and a dog were died.”
Blue, He worked with Hackman in the movie “The Quick and the Dead” from 1995, “ Fox News Digital told that he woke up early on Thursday and immediately saw the news of Hackman’s death. The “CSI: NY” star had several questions.
Gary Sinise, left, considered Gene Hackman as one of his idols. (Getty Images)
Gene Hackman in 1995’s “The Quick and the Dead”, directed by Sam Raimi. (Murray Close/Sygma/Sygma via Getty images)
“He is 95 years old, but his wife was in the 60s. So, what’s going on? You know, something happened and he didn’t do it right?” Sinise wondered.
“It just seems very strange that their dog is gone. You know, what have they done … what happened?”
“I think he was painting. He did a lot of it and led a quiet life in New Mexico.”
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department revealed that autopsies were completed on both Hackman and his wife. No external trauma was seen on the actor or his musician. Authorities remain the deaths of the few investigations, because the official results of the autopsy and toxicological reports are still awaiting.
Sinise shared that after his retirement he did not stay in contact with Hackman, but was aware of his “quiet life” in New Mexico with his wife.
Look: Gary Sinise says that Gene Hackman lived outside of Hollywood before his death a ‘quiet life’
Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead on Wednesday in their house in New Mexico. (Jeffrey Mayer/Wireimage)
“I know that as soon as he retired to New Mexico, he retired. He did not want to come back and receive prizes or, you know, to Hollywood events or something like that. He was ready and he went further out of his life,” Sinise told Fox News Digital.
“I think he was painting. He did a lot of it and led a quiet life in New Mexico.”
Sinise said that Hackman has always been one of his role models.
“I just loved his approach. I loved his persona. I loved everything to him. And as time would go, it was as if Gene never, never failed. He could be in a film that might be less successful than the previous or what. But Gene Hackman was always excellent,” he said.
Gene Hackman and Vrouw Betsy Arakawa were retired and, according to Gary Sinise, lived a “quiet life” in New Mexico. (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty images)
“I mean, he just never called it. He was just a very good actor to model. I just wanted to be like Gene Hackman, you don’t know that I once turned out to be like Gene Hackman, but I had something to strive for and he was one of my favorites.”
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View: Gary Sinise says that Gene Hackman was one of his biggest inspirations
Sinise’s latest project, “Brothers After War”, is a documentary about war veterans in Iraq. The project reunes the maker of the film, Jake Rademacher, with his brothers after war in the middle.
Sinise, who is an executive producer in the film, said that Rademacher decided to reunite with his brothers 10 years after his first documentary, “Brothers At War”, debuted.
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Sinise told Fox News Digital that his foundation wants to help as many service members as possible through the production of this documentary.
The last project of Gary Sinise, “Brothers After War”, is now in theaters. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty images)
“Soldiers and service members who come back from the war and have a hard time, it can be very difficult. And we all know the difficulties we had with suicide in the army and all that. We want so many healing opportunities and healing services, from the Gary Sinise Foundation, for our service members,” he said.
View: Gary Sinise hopes that veterans see his new film ‘Brothers After War’
“And I think ‘Brothers After War’ can have a lot to do with getting our service members to open about what they actually feel, what they have experienced. And it could be … A real opportunity for them to share their stories and then continue. We want them all to go further as a lieutenant then and we want a happy ending from the end and goes home.”
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“Brothers After War” is now in theaters.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon from Fox News Digital has contributed to this report.
