Gene Hackman's cause of death revealed as police confirm star died a week after wife Betsy Arakawa
7 March 2025, 21:21 | Updated: 8 March 2025, 00:42
Gene Hackman's wife died of a rare infectious disease around a week before the Hollywood icon passed away, authorities have confirmed.
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Speaking at a press conference on Friday, officials confirmed both Mr Hackman, 95, and Ms Arakawa, 65, died of natural causes but at different times.
Dr Heather Jarrell of the New Mexico Medical confirmed that Ms Arakawa died, most likely on February 11, after becoming infected with a rare flu-like disease called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Hackman likely died later on February 18 of severe heart disease and showed evidence of advanced alzheimers disease.
The two-time Oscar winner, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead, along with one of their dogs, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico last month.
Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play.
Ms Jarell said Hackman "showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," adding that she is "not aware of his normal daily functioning capability."
She went on to say: "It's quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased."
Signs of rodent activity were present in the couple's home, authorities added.
Hantavirus is often spread by rat urine and droppings.
Carbon monoxide tests came back negative, police said.
Hackman was one of Hollywood's most famous and bankable stars for more than three decades, from his breakthrough in the early 1970s to his retirement in the early 2000s.
He was nominated for five Academy Awards - for Bonnie and Clyde (1968), I Never Sang For My Father (1970), The French Connection (1971), Mississippi Burning (1988) and Unforgiven (1992).
He won the Best Acting Oscar for the French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven.
In the 1990s he transitioned towards supporting roles, appearing in several big hits alongside other major stars and delivering memorable performances.
Films in this period included The Firm alongside Tom Cruise, Crimson Tide with Denzel Washington and Enemy of the State with Will Smith.
He retired after making his last film, 2004's political satire Welcome to Mooseport.
Hackman married his first wife in 1956, and had three children. They divorced in 1986. He married Arakawa in 1988.
Hackman later said he missed acting, but found the business side of the industry too stressful to continue.
He and his wife were seen in public only sporadically after that.
