Why did Gene Hackman move to the Santa Fe house? What we know about the 1950s New Mexico building where the actor was found dead

Gene Hackman, one of the great Hollywood film actors, was found dead at the age of 95, on February 26, 2025, with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog. They were discovered at Hackman’s secluded Santa Fe home, a place that had become a favorite escape from the spotlight after his acting retirement.

Hackman’s ties to Santa Fe date back to the 1980s, when he shot a couple of films in the area. The actor was enchanted with the region, which he described as having its own “magic.” Hackman undertook an ambitious renovation project to transform the house after purchasing the property.

The location of the house was the biggest draw, Hackman said. According to Architectural Digest, situated on top of twelve acres of piñon-covered hills, the site provided a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and the distant peaks of the Colorado mountains.

The house Gene Hackman bought was in a dilapidated condition. He stated that it was a 1950s-era block building that had fallen apart with age.

"The house was horrible. It was a 1950s block building that had sat empty and had deteriorated. But it was a great site, and the foundation had been well placed on the land."

Gene Hackman said he wasn’t interested in pure traditional Pueblo-style architecture, but wanted a space where multiple influences could combine. The home was reconfigured to bring in more light and open up the space, through the inclusion of a set of new French doors.

Most importantly, the Superman actor wanted the renovation to feel authentic. According to Hello Magazine, he mixed traditional Santa Fe decor with carefully considered decorations acquired in New York, Los Angeles and Germany.

To open up and brighten the design, new ceiling beams were installed and almost 90 percent of the roof was removed, raising the ceilings.

The cinematic influences seen in Gene Hackman’s house

Influenced by his cinematic background, Gene Hackman was particularly mindful of the visual characteristics of the house, making sure it conveyed the aged look of a building constructed more than a century ago.

He asked for gentle weathering on the plaster to give the impression of old times, with water stains and smoke-darkened areas to simulate natural aging. The final structure was a seamless flow of gradual color shifts.

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Gene Hackman also paid close attention to the ceilings as he wanted traditional stamped-tin designs. Not satisfied with what was available on the market, he paid a local artisan to make them to his exact specifications.

His involvement in the project was huge, he even created the floor plan, specified kitchen details, and participated in some demolition works.

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