When Did Gene Hackman Get Married? A Look at the Icon's Two Long Marriages

Hollywood is full of marriages that last as long as a movie trailer. Gene Hackman wasn't that guy. He was a two-timer, but in the best possible sense: two marriages, both spanning decades, and both defining very different eras of his life.

Honestly, if you're looking for the quick answer to when did Gene Hackman get married, he actually tied the knot twice. First in 1956 and again in 1991.

It’s a story that starts with a struggling 25-year-old at a YMCA dance and ends in a quiet, secluded estate in Santa Fe. Between those two dates, Hackman became one of the greatest actors of all time. But behind the scenes, his personal life was just as sturdy as his performances in The French Connection or Unforgiven.

The First Chapter: Faye Maltese (1956–1986)

Before the Oscars and the fame, there was Faye.

They met in 1955. Hackman was 25, barely getting by, and hadn't yet become the powerhouse we know today. Faye Maltese was a secretary at Rockefeller Center. They crossed paths at a YMCA dance in New York City, and things moved fast. They married the following year, in 1956.

For the next 30 years, Faye was the one by his side through the lean times and the eventual explosion of his career. They had three kids: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.

Why the Marriage Ended

People always wonder why a 30-year marriage falls apart. Hackman was pretty blunt about it later on. He admitted that the "actor life"—being away on location for months, the intense focus on the craft—took a massive toll.

• Marriage Date: January 1, 1956 (some sources cite just the year)
• Duration: 30 years
• Divorce Finalized: 1986

He once told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that they simply drifted apart. No big scandal, no tabloid-fodder explosion. Just two people who lost sight of each other while one of them was busy becoming a legend.

When Did Gene Hackman Get Married for the Second Time?

The second time Hackman said "I do" was to Betsy Arakawa.

This is the relationship most people remember because it lasted until the very end. They met in the mid-1980s at a gym in California where Betsy was working part-time while pursuing her career as a classical pianist. There was a significant age gap—32 years—but they didn't seem to care.

They dated for seven years before making it official. On December 1, 1991, Gene and Betsy were married in a quiet ceremony.

A Different Kind of Life

After getting married in 1991, Hackman’s life changed. He started pulling away from the Hollywood machine. By 2004, he retired from acting entirely. He and Betsy moved to a 53-acre compound in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

While his first marriage was defined by the struggle and the climb, his marriage to Betsy was about the peace. They were known for being incredibly private. They watched DVDs, went for walks with their dogs, and Betsy even helped him transition into his second career as a novelist.

The Tragic and Heartbreaking End in 2025

The reason many people are asking about Gene Hackman's marriage right now is due to the tragic news that broke in early 2025.

On February 26, 2025, authorities discovered both Gene and Betsy dead in their Santa Fe home. It was a shock to the industry. Investigations eventually revealed a heartbreaking timeline: Betsy had passed away on February 11 from hantavirus (a rare respiratory illness).

Hackman, who was 95 and battling advanced Alzheimer’s, passed away about a week later on February 18 from heart disease. Some believe his condition prevented him from fully understanding or reporting Betsy's passing. They died as they lived for over 30 years—together, away from the spotlight.

Facts at a Glance

If you just need the hard dates for his marital history, here they are:

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1. Faye Maltese: Married in 1956. This was the era of his rise to stardom. They divorced in 1986.
2. Betsy Arakawa: Married on December 1, 1991. This was his "retirement" era. They remained married until their deaths in February 2025.

Hackman’s legacy isn't just his two Academy Awards. It’s also the fact that in an industry that eats relationships for breakfast, he managed to maintain two deeply significant, long-term partnerships that spanned nearly 70 years of his life combined.

To truly understand Gene Hackman's life, you have to look at the work he did after the cameras stopped rolling. If you are researching his estate or his final years, his Santa Fe property is currently a focal point for his remaining family as they manage his significant legacy. For those looking to honor his memory, revisiting his later-life novels, which he often credited Betsy for helping him write, offers a unique look into the man he became after he left Hollywood behind.