New Delhi, Feb. 28 -- Gene Hackman wife's body showed signs of mummification and bloating when the couple was discovered dead along their dog in their multimillion-dollar New Mexico home. Police said the maintenance workers, who first noticed the unusually quiet house, said they hadn't seen the couple for about two weeks.

The sheriff's office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said on Thursday that Hackman, the intense character actor who won two Oscars in a more than 60-year career, and wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa died of unknown causes at home.

"Hackman and Arakawa had been deceased for quite a while"- though the sheriff could not say how long. He said they were still trying to determine the last time anybody had contact with the couple.

Polic...