The world was stunned when the two-time Oscar-winning star Gene Hackman, 95, was found dead last month along with his 65 year-old wife Betsy Arakawa. Now, their causes of death have finally been revealed.
Just a forewarning: it’s a little gruesome.
Arakawa And Hackman’s Causes Of Death
New Mexico chief medical examiner Heather Jarrell revealed the causes of death in a press conference on Friday.
“I’d like to begin by stating that it is unprecedented for the office of the medical investigator to make public statements about death investigations,” Jarrell told reporters. “However, the circumstances surrounding these two deaths require accurate dissemination of important information.”
Jarrell went on to reveal that Arakawa died first of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This rare disease can be transmitted to human beings through rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. She died around a week before her husband. Arakawa was last seen on surveillance camera entering the gated community where she and Hackman lived on February 11. It is believed that she died that day.
“Numerous emails were unopened on her computer on February 11,” said Sheriff Adan Mendoza. “There was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after February 11, 2025.”
Related: Gene Hackman, 95, Was ‘Murdered,’ Hollywood Legend Randy Quaid Alleges
How Hackman Passed Away
According to Jarrell, Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Unbeknownst to fans, he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s disease. This means that Hackman may not have understood or known that his wife was dead, which would be why he remained in their Santa Fe mansion with her body for around a week before he died himself.
“Examination of the brain showed advanced Alzheimer’s disease as well as blood vessel changes in the brain,” Jarrell said. “It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died on February 18.”
Jarrell came up with this date based on a “cardiac event” recorded by his pacemaker. She added that Hackman “had not eaten recently” before passing away as there was “no food in his stomach.” However, there was also no “evidence of dehydration.”
“There were no other significant natural disease findings,” Jarrell concluded, only further revealing that the pills found by Arakawa’s body were thyroid medication.
Related: Why Was Gene Hackman Living In Seclusion For So Long? We Explain
Arakawa ‘Looked After’ Hackman
Tom Allin, a close friend of Hackman’s, said that the actor would have died “long ago” if it wasn’t for Arakawa. Allin told the New York Times that Hackman “seemed happy” to have his wife “run things” and take care of him.
“She was very protective of him,” Allin explained.
According to Allin, Arakawa served as “something of a gatekeeper” for her husband. Indeed, she’d often set up golf games or meetings for the two friends.
“She just really looked after him,” Allin explained.
Arakawa was a trained classical pianist. She met Hackman when she was working part-time at a California gym in the 1980s. They married in 1991 and soon moved to Santa Fe. Hackman retired from acting in 2004, and they proceeded to spend much of the next two decades in relative seclusion. He reportedly became reclusive in his final years, likely due to his Alzheimer’s.
Hackman and Arakawa had no children together. However, Hackman had three from a previous marriage. Please join us in saying a prayer for them!
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