The county sheriff announced Friday that renowned actor Gene Hackman presumably expired nine days prior to authorities finding him and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa, lifeless inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico residence. A pathologist determined the 95-year-old Academy Award winner's cardiac device last transmitted on February 17, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza explained at a media briefing. He noted that definitive causes of death remain pending.
"We reasonably believe this marked his final living day," Mendoza informed journalists. Examinations of both Hackman and Arakawa, 64, showed no indications of carbon monoxide exposure. The sheriff could not establish who died first after personnel found the pair deceased in different house areas on Wednesday. Mendoza reaffirmed no suspicious circumstances existed.
Gene Hackman Death: Investigators Unveil 'Very Important ... (Source: parade.com)
The couple had established roots in Santa Fe during the 1980s, engaging with local artistic circles and food enthusiasts. Recently, the actor and his pianist partner appeared infrequently in public as Hackman's physical condition worsened. They maintained extreme seclusion before their deaths, according to Mendoza.
A property attendant identified their bodies Wednesday after peering through a window at their secured community residence, as detailed in his emergency call.
Law enforcement officials located Hackman in the cooking area. They discovered Arakawa and a canine in a washroom, with medication capsules strewn across the counter from an unsealed prescription container.
Both individuals appeared to have collapsed unexpectedly, with neither body showing trauma evidence. Officials noticed one partially open doorway at the residence rear. Two remaining pets had utilized this exit for access, Mendoza clarified.
The sheriff has commissioned chemical analysis of the bathroom pharmaceuticals and additional medications found throughout the house, describing this as "an item warranting scrutiny."
Every Gene Hackman Movie Ranked Worst To Best (Source: www.looper.com)
"This constitutes particularly crucial evidence from the location," Mendoza explained to NBC News, mentioning that findings might require three months or beyond.
Items collected as evidence included cardiac and thyroid treatments, a future year planner, dual cellular devices, and medical documentation, according to official records.
Hackman, previously serving in the Marines and recognized for his distinctive vocal quality, performed in over 80 motion pictures, television productions, and theatrical works during his extensive entertainment career beginning in the early 1960s.
Distinguished Film Achievements
The Academy recognized Hackman with his first nomination for his standout performance as bank thief Clyde Barrow's sibling in the 1967 movie "Bonnie and Clyde." He captured the Oscar for best lead performer in 1972 for his depiction of investigator Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection," and later acquired an Oscar in the supporting category in 1993 for his contribution to "Unforgiven."
Beloved 'Thorn Birds' Actor Richard Chamberlain Dies at 90
The beloved actor from "The Thorn Birds" has died at the age of 90.
Legendary performer Richard Chamberlain, famous for his roles in The Thorn Birds, Dr. Kildare, and Shōgun, has died at 90 years old. His longtime publicist confirmed that Chamberlain passed peacefully from natural causes on March 30 at his residence in California.
For many, Chamberlain was more than a Hollywood actor — he was a well-known figure, a romantic hero, and a familiar face on TV for many years. Fans around the world are grieving the loss of a man whose talent and charm helped define a generation.
He first became famous in the 1960s as the handsome Dr. Kildare — a role that quickly made him a heartthrob. However, it was his remarkable performance as Father Ralph de Bricassart in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds that made him a television legend. The story, which centered on secret love, captivated viewers and earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe.
Over the years, Chamberlain delivered nuance and sophistication in every part he played. His Emmy-nominated role in Shōgun and his work in adaptations of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask showcased his versatility.
Outside of acting, Richard Chamberlain’s life was characterized by dignity, bravery, and quiet resilience. In 2003, he openly declared himself gay — a courageous step that encouraged many and gave hope to those hiding their true selves. He spent many years living quietly in Hawaii before moving back to Los Angeles, where he kept acting and occasionally performed on stage.
Tributes started coming in quickly from fans and former colleagues, many of whom fondly recall his kindness and professionalism, beyond his talent.
_“_He will always be my Aramis, who excited my teenage imagination with his commanding presence and his mysterious, charismatic aura. Rest in Peace Richard."_
As we bid farewell to one of TV’s great icons, we remember the happiness, passion, and grace he brought to our lives. Richard Chamberlain is gone, but the characters he portrayed and the hearts he touched will stay with us forever.
Rest in peace, Richard.
Dog Barks at Coffin during Funeral, Suspicious Son Opens It and Finds It Empty –
Story of the Day
A dog barks at a coffin during a funeral, prompting a suspicious son to open it and find it empty – Making headlines today
Ryan becomes alert when his pet rushes into the church and growls at his father's coffin. Noticing the animal's tense stance, Ryan opens the casket and discovers his father's body is gone.
Ryan got out of his vehicle and stopped outside the church, feeling unready to say farewell to his father. "We couldn't even give Dad a proper farewell," he thought. Suddenly, Bella’s sharp bark caught his attention.
"Bella!" He signaled her to lie down, and she obeyed. He rubbed her head through the open window. "Stay, Bella."
Ignoring her whine, Ryan moved away and entered the church. Arnold’s casket was already in place, shut, with the funeral director having discreetly isolated the area because Arnold had died from a contagious illness.
Ryan sat beside his mother. Given the circumstances, Arnold would be cremated instead of buried.
Just as the service ended and everyone stood to sing the final hymn, Bella’s bark echoed through the church. She leapt onto the closed casket, knocking over the floral arrangement and barking loudly.
When Bella settled into a vigilant position on the floor and fixed her gaze on him, Ryan sensed something was wrong.
A gasp spread among the mourners. Ryan ignored their reactions and approached the casket. He pulled back the lid and found it was completely empty.
"Where’s my brother?" His uncle stared at the funeral director in shock.
Ryan’s mother couldn’t handle the situation. Her eyes rolled back, and her knees buckled. Ryan caught her just in time before she hit the marble floor. He hurried her to the hospital.
That night, at his mother’s home, Ryan called the police.
“All we know is that the coroner confirmed the cause of death and handed the remains to the funeral home,” Detective Bradshaw told him. “Did your father have any suspicious activities I should know about?”
Ryan hadn’t been involved in his father’s work since starting his dog training business. Still, he believed Arnold would never jeopardize his or the company’s reputation.
Since no solid leads emerged, Detective Bradshaw left promising to keep in touch. But Ryan wanted answers immediately. His mother was staying at the hospital overnight. He left Bella at home and headed to the morgue.
The nurse informed him that the coroner had resigned. Ryan asked for his father’s file, but she refused citing policy. Ryan persuaded her by offering $1000. She turned a blind eye, and he slipped inside the coroner’s office. He checked the shelves but couldn’t find Arnold’s file; it was missing.
He was frustrated when his phone buzzed—it was Mr. Stevens, Arnold’s lawyer. The lawyer told Ryan he was now the new CEO and wanted to see him urgently.
At Arnold’s office, Ryan opened Arnold’s email account on the computer, only to find the inbox was empty. Someone had deleted all correspondence.
Mr. Stevens entered and shut the door behind him. "Hello, Ryan. Who has used this computer?" he asked.
"Where are the figurines?" Ryan noticed two were missing from Arnold’s office.
"Oh, he took them home. Arnold never could get the third piece in the set. Can you believe the owner demands half a million for it?" Mr. Stevens said.
Ryan thought Arnold wouldn’t have taken them home. He had searched his parents' house and hadn’t seen those figurines.
“More urgent matters,” Mr. Stevens said. He explained that Arnold’s debts were mounting, and investors threatened to pull out. Arnold had missed meetings with them before his death.
He also suspected Arnold was having an affair with his secretary, Miss Pearson. Ryan felt angry at the thought of his mother’s sadness but was about to confront Pearson until Mr. Stevens stopped him to protect Arnold’s reputation.
Ryan spent the day resolving the debts, sending gifts to investors. Later, he tracked Pearson to her suburban home. He waited outside in his car until she left. He decided to follow her but then changed his mind. Instead, he snuck into her garage just before the door closed, then entered her house through a doorway.
He found her kitchen first, grabbed a flashlight, and looked around. He saw a framed photo of her kissing Arnold on the nightstand. He stayed focused, searching the house for clues. Nothing suspicious appeared. As he prepared to leave, he noticed a slightly open drawer on the coffee table.
Inside, he found a Manila envelope containing Arnold’s $7 million life insurance policy. The beneficiary was Miss Pearson. Ryan took the document and went straight to the police station.
Detective Bradshaw examined the policy and wanted to investigate Miss Pearson further. She approached him with officers. She was planning to fly to Morocco in half an hour. Since the U.S. and Morocco don’t have extradition treaties, the police needed to question her beforehand.
Ryan hoped to follow, but the officer told him civilians could not. Ryan ignored her and tried to follow her through security. Officers at the gate tried to stop him. Ryan managed to slip past, but then the woman they detained was not Pearson. She was someone else entirely. Despite hours of searching, Pearson had vanished.
Ryan was back to where he started but believed Arnold was alive. He realized the figurines weren’t at his mother’s house; Arnold must have taken them himself. He looked online for the collector with the third figurine and visited him.
He asked, "How much for this figurine?" pointing at it.
"$750,000," replied Mr. Frederick, the collector.
"That’s well above its usual value," Ryan said.
"Then don’t buy it. Price isn’t negotiable," Frederick said.
Ryan needed it, so he arranged the funds. He called Mr. Stevens, offering to sell some shares worth $750,000.
Mr. Stevens warned him it would mean losing control of the company but Ryan explained the urgency. He intended to buy back his shares within a week. Mr. Stevens hesitated but agreed to wire the money, asking Ryan not to ask too many questions about Pearson’s disappearance.
Once Ryan received the funds, he went to see Mr. Frederick. The collector noted the figurine’s rarity. Ryan paid him immediately and prepared to continue his search.
At his mother’s house, Ryan returned and told her he had been busy. She scolded him for disappearing, missing Bella, and neglecting her.
Later, he hid behind a pillar at an auction and watched the bidding for the figurine. The price climbed, and only two bidders remained. Neither was Arnold.
Ryan had paid for ads to notify Arnold about the auction. As the bidding reached $600,000, Arnold suddenly appeared and bid in person, revealing himself by removing his hat.
The auctioneer declared, "$1 million!" Arnold then headed for the door. Ryan rushed to block him. Detective Bradshaw cuffed Arnold once he saw him.
Arnold looked at Ryan sharply. “You set me up! This was a trap!”
“Dad, you betrayed us! You faked your death and ran off with Pearson! How could you?” Ryan yelled.
Arnold admitted he was tired of his old life and wanted to start fresh with Pearson, confessing he bought life insurance and faked his death, making everyone mourn an empty coffin.
The Dog Kept Barking At Its Owner's Coffin. Opening It, People Screamed In Horror! (Source: www.youtube.com)
Ryan responded, "A man should do what is right, not just what’s easy. You ignored that, and now you’ve paid the price."
Detective Bradshaw reassured Ryan that Pearson would be caught soon. Arnold was taken to the police vehicle.
In the glittering world of 1950s Hollywood, few stars shone as brightly as Lee Grant - a luminous actress whose mesmerizing performances captivated audiences and critics alike. Her meteoric rise seemed unstoppable, with an Oscar nomination and Cannes Award under her belt by 1951. But at the height of her burgeoning career, Grant suddenly found herself caught in Hollywood's most insidious trap - the notorious blacklist that would alter the course of her life and career for over a decade.
Journey
Lee Grant | Rotten Tomatoes (Source: www.rottentomatoes.com)
Lee Grant's path to stardom began with her film debut in the 1951 noir classic "Detective Story," where she delivered a performance so compelling it earned her both an Academy Award nomination and the prestigious Best Actress Award at Cannes Film Festival. Her enigmatic screen presence and formidable acting prowess quickly caught Hollywood's attention, marking her as one of the industry's most promising newcomers.
The young actress's ascent seemed inexorable as she landed coveted roles and garnered critical acclaim. Her innate ability to embody complex characters made her a director's dream, while her ethereal beauty and sophistication captivated audiences. However, her trajectory took an unprecedented turn after she delivered a heartfelt eulogy at actor J. Edward Bromberg's memorial service in 1951, where she implied his death was linked to the stress of facing the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
This pivotal moment triggered a seismic shift in her career. The industry's powerbrokers, hyper-vigilant about communist sympathizers, swiftly reacted. Grant found herself ostracized from major studios, her name added to the infamous blacklist that would effectively exile her from mainstream Hollywood for the next 12 years, forcing her to navigate the penumbra of an industry that once embraced her.
Challenges
Film Forum · Lee Grant in SHAMPOO (Source: filmforum.org)
The blacklist era brought Grant face-to-face with Hollywood's most draconian practices. Major studios, paralyzed by fear of communist associations, systematically shut their doors to her. The once-promising actress found herself in an involuntary exile, her career momentum grinding to an abrupt halt during what should have been her prime years.
The period between 1951 and 1963 proved particularly arduous as Grant faced unprecedented obstacles. Job offers evaporated, and her name became toxic in the industry. The intransigent studio system, which maintained an iron grip on talent, effectively quarantined her from significant film roles. This professional ostracism affected not just her career but her livelihood, forcing her to seek alternative paths to sustain herself.
Despite her formidable talent, Grant encountered the kafkaesque reality of being guilty by association. The HUAC's influence permeated every corner of Hollywood, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. Even those who admired her work hesitated to hire her, fearing repercussions from powerful industry figures. The psychological toll of being branded as persona non grata in an industry she loved was immense, yet Grant refused to capitulate to the pressure to "name names" or renounce her principles, showing remarkable fortitude in the face of systemic persecution.
Milestones
Lee Grant: After the Blacklist, a Red House - WSJ (Source: www.wsj.com)
After emerging from the blacklist's shadow in the mid-1960s, Grant orchestrated a remarkable comeback that proved her indomitable spirit. Her resurgence began with notable appearances in "Valley of the Dolls" and "In the Heat of the Night," demonstrating that her talent had only grown sharper during her forced hiatus.
The pinnacle of her professional redemption came in 1975 when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Shampoo," a victory that served as both vindication and triumph. This accolade, coming decades after her initial Oscar nomination, symbolized her resilient return to Hollywood's upper echelon.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Grant continued to break new ground, appearing in groundbreaking television shows like "Columbo" and expanding her artistic repertoire. Her later career included a memorable role in David Lynch's surrealist masterpiece "Mulholland Drive," showcasing her versatility across different genres and decades.
Beyond acting, Grant achieved recognition as a trailblazing female director, winning numerous awards for her documentary work. Her evolution from blacklisted actress to acclaimed filmmaker represented not just personal achievement but a powerful statement about perseverance in the face of adversity. These accomplishments cemented her legacy as both an artist and a survivor of one of Hollywood's darkest chapters.
