His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was also found dead in their New Mexico home.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa received a touching tribute from the Santa Fe Film Commission following the pair's recent deaths. At the top of a Friday press conference, Santa Fe Film Commissioner Jennifer LaBar-Tapia opened with a tribute on what the late actor and wife meant not only to the film industry but to the city they called home.

Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their home on Feb. 26, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office tells PEOPLE