The causes of death for Gene Hackman, who was 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was 65, were revealed at a press conference at Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday (8 March).
Dr Heather Jerrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, announced that Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents.
Her exact time of death is not known, but she was last seen on 11 February.
Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to information gathered from his pacemaker, he likely died on 18 February.
Dr Jerrell explained: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.” Arakawa is believed to have been his sole caregiver.
The couple were found dead in their Santa Fe home on 26 February alongside one of their pet dogs, Zinna.
The cause of death for Zinna (short for Zinfandel), a kelpie mix, has not yet been determined.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Zinna has been been taken for necropsy at Veterinary Diagnostic Services, with results still awaited. He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on 9 February.
“There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” added Mendoza.
According to a police search warrant, the actor, his wife and their dog were found in separate rooms and appeared to have been “dead for some time”. The couple suffered “no external trauma”, the preliminary findings of a medical investigation found.
At a press conference last Friday, Sheriff Mendoza confirmed that both Hackman and Arakawa had tested negative for carbon monoxide.
Hackman was one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood, appearing in classic films such as The French Connection, The Conversation and Superman.
He won Oscars for The French Connection and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and stepped away from the spotlight a few years after 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums.
Key Points
- Gene Hackman told friend that he would have died 'long ago' without his wife
- Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and may not have known his wife was dead
- Betsy Arakawa was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
- Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in their home in Santa Fe
- Gene Hackman death: Everything we know as actor’s body is found with wife and dog
Gene Hackman told friend he would have died ‘long ago’ without the attentive care of his wife
20:00 , Annabel NugentFriends and neighbours of the late couple have spoken about the lengths Betsy Arakawa went to in her care for Hackman as his Alzheimer’s worsened and he was unable to complete simple tasks.
According to the them, she policed his diet in light of his heart trouble, typed and edited the novels that he wrote by hand, organised meet-ups and golf with his friends, and would mix soda water into his wine to keep him hydrated.
Gene Hackman told friend he would have died ‘long ago’ without the care of his wife
Who are Gene Hackman's children?
19:00 , Annabel NugentHackman shared three children with his ex-wife Faye Maltese, whom he was married to between 1956 and 1986.
The former couple welcomed three children: son Christopher and daughters Elizabeth and Leslie. It was in a joint statement from Elizabeth, Leslie and Hackman’s granddaughter Annie that the actor’s death was officially announced.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,”they said. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Gene Hackman: brawling genius of film
18:00 , Annabel NugentOne of the most esteemed actors of his generation, Gene Hackman enjoyed critical acclaim for several of his movies – but what was his highest rated film according to fans?
According to audiences, Hackman’s best movie is 1992’s Unforgiven, which has an impressive 93 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes – his highest rated film. Second on the list is 1974’s Young Frankenstein with 92 per cent, and coming in third place is 1988’s Mississippi Burning with 90 percent.
Did Gene Hackman have a carer?
17:00 , Annabel NugentGiven that Hackman was 95 years old and suffering from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s, it would be expected that the Oscar-winner would have a live-in carer.
It seems, however, that Besty Arakawa was his sole caregiver as his wife looked after his health and organised meet-ups with friends.
A family friend of the couple, Aaron Lenihan told People magazine that “Betsy tried to keep him kind of active and engaged”. He said that Hackman did puzzles and yoga via Zoom daily.
“She was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible,” said Aaron.
Asked whether the couple had anyone taking care of Hackman, Sheriff Mendoza said: “At this point, there’s no indication that there was a caretaker at the home.”
When and where was Betsy Arakawa last steen?
16:00 , Annabel NugentSurveillance footage from 11 February showed Arawaka visiting a Sprouts Farmers Market, a CVS pharmacy and a pet food store in Santa Fe before driving back to their gated community in Santa Fe at approximately 5.15pm.
After that, she was never seen or heard from again. Her body was found alongside Hackman’s on 26 February during a welfare check conducted by neighbourhood security.
In his final years, Gene Hackman was 'slowing down and reclusive'
15:00 , Annabel NugentFriends and neighbours in Santa Fe told the New York Times that the couple had increasingly withdrawn from public life, especially after the pandemic. Towards the end, they said, the only sign of them was their bins left outside on the road for collection.
Two of the couple’s family friends, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, also told People magazine that the actor had become “essentially home-bound” and had “stopped riding his bike through the neighborhood”.
Filmmaking giant Francis Ford Coppola was among the many figures to pay tribute to Hackman following his death.
“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” he wrote.
“I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
Gene Hackman tributes pour in from Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Paul Feig and more
A new feature in The New York Times features interviews with Hackman’s former friends, in an effort to paint a clearer picture of the actor’s final years.
Tom Allin, who shared over 20 years of friendship with Hackman, recalled the actor saying that he would have been dead “long ago” without his wife taking care of him.
“She just really looked after him,” said Allin, who said he once saw Arakawa mixing soda water into Hackman’s wine at a friend’s 90th birthday party in 2020 to aid his health.
According to the publication, she also policed his diet in light of the heart trouble that he had struggled with for decades, and also typed and edited the novels that he wrote by hand.
What is hantavirus?
12:00 , Annabel Nugent
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
How did Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman meet?
11:30 , Annabel NugentThey couple met at a Los Angeles fitness centre where Arakawa – a classically trained pianist – had a part-time job.
Hackman had forgotten his entry card, and she refused to let him in, according to a friend Rodney Hatfield.
The couple married in 1991, and a friend told the publication that their relationship seemed natural despite the 30-year age gap.
Gene Hackman told his friend he would have died 'long ago' without his wife
11:11 , Annabel NugentGene Hackman told friend he would have died ‘long ago’ without the care of his wife
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
11:00 , Annabel Nugent
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
What did Morgan Freeman say about Gene Hackman?
10:00 , Annabel NugentA week has passed since the Oscars, during which Morgan Freeman paid tribute to his late friend, the great Gene Hackman.
Read his full speech below:
“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion.
“Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.
“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'” Freeman continued. “I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”
Gene Hackman went from being the 'least likely to succeed' to the brawling genius of film
09:30 , Annabel Nugent
Gene Hackman would have died 'long ago' without his wife's care, claims actor's friend
09:00 , Annabel NugentIn an interview with The New York Times, a longtime friend of Hackman’s said that Betsy Arakawa’s care was vital in Hackman living as long as he did.
“She was very protective of him,” Tom Allin told the publication, adding that the actor seemed happy to have his wife apparently acting as his sole caregiver during his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Among her daily tasks, Arakawa – a classical pianist – set up golf games with his friends, ensured he ate healthily, and diluted his wine with soda water.
She also typed and edited the novels he wrote by hand.
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
08:22 , Annabel NugentHantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs.
The rare virus initially causes flu-like symptoms that can progress to more acute illness where people have trouble breathing. It is fatal in nearly 4 out of 10 people who are infected.
Just under 730 cases were identified in the U.S. between 1993 and 2017. Nearly all cases were west of the Mississippi River.
Learn more about its symptoms and how it spreads here:
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
Alzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
07:00 , Kevin PerryFollowing a press conference on Friday, much more is now understood about the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we know:
Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s shocking death from natural causes
A timeline of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
06:02 , Kevin PerryIn the days that followed the news that Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa had died, mystery swirled as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Then authorities released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory: shortly after Arakawa’s death from a rare infection, Hackman died of heart disease, apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.
Here is a timeline of events as shared by police:
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Hackman died ‘with no food in his stomach’
05:00 , Kevin Perry“He was in a very poor state of health,” New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said when asked about Hackman’s ability to keep himself alive after his wife’s death.
“I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.
Dr Jerrell added: “I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence of dehydration. I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his heart disease, with Alzheimer’s being a contributing factor.”
Asked whether starvation was a factor in his death, Dr Jerrell said: “There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration.”
Unclear whether Hackman was going to seek help
04:00 , Kevin PerrySanta Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife. “That's hard to answer,” Mendoza said.
“Again, it's hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don't know if we'll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, authorities say
Pills found on scene unrelated to deaths, says medical examiner
03:02 , Kevin PerryThere had previously been speculation about the scattered pills found near Betsy Arakawa’s body, but speaking today New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said they were unrelated to her death.
“Pills present on scene were thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and are not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death,” said Dr Jerrell.
Hackman had advanced Alzheimer's and possibly didn't know his wife died a week earlier, medical examiner says
02:00 , Kevin PerryHackman and Arakawa’s marriage
01:00 , Kevin PerryThe couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
Betsy Arakawa death: The classical pianist who was married to Gene Hackman since 1991
Hackman and his wife died one week apart, medical examiner says
00:00 , Kevin PerryUpdate on the Hackmans' deceased dog
Saturday 8 March 2025 23:00 , Kevin PerryZinna (short for Zinfandel), the kelpie mix who was found dead in a crate not far from Betsy Arakawa, has been taken for necropsy at the Veterinary Diagnostic Services.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “We'll be awaiting those results.”
He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” said Mendoza.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals
Saturday 8 March 2025 22:00 , Kevin PerryAlzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 21:00 , Kevin PerryFollowing a press conference on Friday, much more is now understood about the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we know:
Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s shocking death from natural causes
Joe Walsh recalls friendship with Hackman
Saturday 8 March 2025 20:00 , Kevin Perry
Eagles star Joe Walsh has recalled his friendship with Hackman, writing on Instagram: “Summer of 1976 or so in Santa Barbara. I had joined a new band and we were working on what would become Hotel California. My buddy Gene had just finished what would become The Domino Principle. We drank hard. We laughed hard. We fought over who had the bigger nose (he did). And oh man… We played poker for days. Whenever I hear the term “Poker Face,” I will always see this face… and giggle. Godspeed, my friend. RIP Gene Hackman.”
Jennifer Tilly says she's 'haunted' by Hackman's death
Saturday 8 March 2025 19:00 , Kevin Perry
Chucky star Jennifer Tilly wrote on social media: “Haunted by the tragic story of Gene Hackman and his wife. I met him once in the early 90s. He had such a strong vibrant larger than life presence. Such a sad lonely end to a brilliant life and career. I hope they have both found peace.”
'We need to do a better job': Screenwriter reflects on Gene Hackman's tragic death
Saturday 8 March 2025 18:30 , Josh MarcusGene Hackman’s death has shocked members of the film community.
One screenwriter says it highlights the need for more discussion around caring for the aging.
“The thought of an Alzheimers-stricken Gene Hackman wandering around his giant house alone for nearly a week while his beloved wife was lying dead on the floor is almost unbearably sad,” Zack Stentz wrote on X on Saturday. “We collectively need to do a better job preparing for the realities of aging and mortality.”
What to know about hantavirus
Saturday 8 March 2025 18:01 , Josh MarcusGene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa likely died of hantavirus, according to New Mexico officials.
"Hantaviruses typically spread when humans breathe in virus particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials," Dr. Rhys Parry, a molecular virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia, told Fox News.
The disease is found throughout the U.S. and is not known to spread person-to-person, but it has a nearly 40 percent fatality rate, according to the CDC.
'They were so delightful': Friends remember Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
Saturday 8 March 2025 17:15 , Josh MarcusGene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa met a tragic end, dying days apart from each other in February under circumstances that are still being investigated, but friends remembered the pair as a tight-knit and doting couple in life.
“Last time we saw them, they were alive and well,” Daniel Lenihan told CNN of his last encounter with the two, a few weeks ago at a Santa Fe home decor shop.
“They were so delightful to be around,” Barbara, Lenihan’s wife, added. “Probably never seen a couple that got along and enjoyed each other so much.”
ICYMI: Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 16:47 , Josh MarcusAuthorities have revealed actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico home.
Hackman, 95, Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their kelpie mix named Zinna were found dead by a maintenance worker on February 26.
In the days that followed, mystery swirled around the deaths as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Then authorities released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory: Shortly after Arakawa's death from a rare infection, Hackman died of the nation’s leading killer – heart disease – apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.
More details in the story below.
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Gene Hackman spent days without wife as caregiver before his death
Saturday 8 March 2025 16:39 , Josh MarcusPrior to the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, the latter spent years caring for the former as he battled health conditions.
As Hackman faced persistent heart troubles, Arakawa looked after his diet, made sure he didn’t drink too much alcohol, and overall served as the aging actor’s caregiver in addition to his wife.
That makes the circumstances of both of their deaths all the more tragic.
Arakawa appears to have died, of a viral infection, days before Hackman, leaving the 95-year-old with Alzheimer’s alone without his accustomed support system.
Gene Hackman was one of Hollywood’s greatest actors – and one of its least conventional leading men.
It’s hard to imagine anyone like him reaching these levels of success now, writes Louis Chilton.
If Gene Hackman was a young actor in 2025, Hollywood would reject him
Gene Hackman reflected on fear of dying in 2004
Saturday 8 March 2025 15:50 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman spoke of his fear of dying in an interview with CNN’s Larry King back in 2004.
The interview has today (27 February) resurfaced following the death of the 95-year-old actor, alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their pet dog.
No foul play is suspected, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
Mendoza told The Santa Fe New Mexican that the couple died around midnight on Thursday. The sheriff did not speculate on their cause of death, which has not been determined.
In the 2004 CNN interview, Hackman said: “I have the normal fear of passing away.”
He added: “I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of.”
Police say we’ll never know about Hackman’s final days
Saturday 8 March 2025 15:20 , Jacob StolworthySanta Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife, who died a week before him.
“That’s hard to answer,” Mendoza said. “Again, it’s hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don’t know if we’ll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, authorities say
Gene Hackman and wife’s bodies showed signs of ‘mummification’
Saturday 8 March 2025 14:43 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were dead for at least several days before their bodies were discovered, authorities have said.
The bodies of the couple were found in their Santa Fe home Wednesday night. Arakawa’s body “showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition” and “mummifications in both hands and feet,” according to a search warrant.
Hackman’s body was found in “similar and consistent” condition.
Natural mummification occurs when the body dries out, turning tissue into a shrunken, hard mass. This typically happens in either dry and hot or very cold environments.
Read more:
Gene Hackman’s date of death determined
Saturday 8 March 2025 13:54 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman’s initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity on 17 February. Subsequent pacemaker investigation showed an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation on 18 February, which was the last record of heart activity.
Based on this information, chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell said it is reasonable to conclude that Hackman probably died on this date.
Hackman was in an ‘advanced state of Alzheimer’s’ when he died
Saturday 8 March 2025 12:54 , Jacob StolworthyIn reference to the length of time between the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell explained that: “He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and it is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.”
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Hackman and Arakawa’s marriage
Saturday 8 March 2025 12:16 , Jacob StolworthyThe couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
More here:
Betsy Arakawa death: The classical pianist who was married to Gene Hackman since 1991
Gene Hackman refused to re-watch one of his most famous films
Saturday 8 March 2025 11:21 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman starred in multiple classic films – but there was one the actor refused to watch back.
Perhaps Hackman’s most memorable role was his performance as grizzled detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 crime drama The French Connection – and despite it being one of his most famous roles, it was one the actor never cared to revisit.
The actor watched the film just once, shortly after it was completed – but that was enough for the actor, who won an Oscar for the role.
Gene Hackman refused to re-watch one of his most famous films
Gene Hackman became a reclusive figure in later life
Saturday 8 March 2025 10:48 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman announced that he had retired from acting in 2008 while promoting his third novel Escape from Andersonville. His final film was the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport where he starred alongside Ray Romano.
In 2022, he made a rare public appearance to attend a show in Santa Fe’s Lensic Center for Performing Arts titled Broadway Confidential which delighted fans in the process.
Read The Independent’s report on Hackman’s rare outing below.
Rare new photo of retired actor Gene Hackman, 92, delights movie fans
Gene Hackman: The brawling genius of film
Saturday 8 March 2025 10:17 , Jacob StolworthyDespite being voted ‘Least Likely to Succeed’ by his acting school classmates, Hackman became one of the greatest actors of our age.
Martin Chilton remembers a screen icon:
Hackman died ‘with no food in his stomach’
Saturday 8 March 2025 09:41 , Jacob Stolworthy“He was in a very poor state of health,” New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said when asked about Hackman’s ability to keep himself alive after his wife’s death.
“I’m not aware of what his normal daily functioning capability was. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that is what resulted in his death.
Dr Jerrell added: “I was able to look at fluid to determine if he was dehydrated, and I did not see evidence of dehydration. I did see evidence of very poor kidney function, and I think he died as a result of his heart disease, with Alzheimer’s being a contributing factor.”
Asked whether starvation was a factor in his death, Dr Jerrell said: “There was no food in his stomach, which means he had not eaten recently, but he had also no evidence of dehydration.”
A timeline of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 09:00 , Jacob StolworthyIn the days that followed the news that Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa had died, mystery swirled as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.
Then authorities released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory: shortly after Arakawa’s death from a rare infection, Hackman died of heart disease, apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.
Here is a timeline of events as shared by police:
Full timeline of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths
What is Hantavirus?
Saturday 8 March 2025 08:25 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
The rare and potentially deadly disease, which is spread through rodents, needs to be treated early before severe symptoms develop.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
Alzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Saturday 8 March 2025 07:00 , Kevin PerryFollowing a press conference on Friday, much more is now understood about the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we know:
Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s shocking death from natural causes
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals
Saturday 8 March 2025 06:30 , Kevin PerryTimeline of Betsy Arakawa's final days
Saturday 8 March 2025 06:02 , Kevin PerryTwo days after collecting Zinna from the vet, Betsy Arakawa was seen in public for the final time on February 11.
Between 3:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., she was captured on surveillance footage shopping for groceries at Sprouts Farmers Market. She was later seen in a CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe from around 4:12 to 4:20 p.m., before stopping at a local pet food store at about 4:54 p.m.
She used a remote control clicker in her car to enter the gated community where the Hackmans’ lived at 5:15 p.m.
After her death numerous emails were found unopened on her computer from February 11, and there was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after that date.
Read more here:
Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s shocking death from natural causes
Unclear whether Hackman was going to seek help
Saturday 8 March 2025 05:01 , Kevin PerrySanta Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife. “That's hard to answer,” Mendoza said.
“Again, it's hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don't know if we'll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, authorities say
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart, medical examiner says
Saturday 8 March 2025 03:02 , Kevin PerryUpdate on the Hackmans' deceased dog
Saturday 8 March 2025 02:06 , Kevin PerryZinna (short for Zinfandel), the kelpie mix who was found dead in a crate not far from Betsy Arakawa, has been taken for necropsy at the Veterinary Diagnostic Services.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “We'll be awaiting those results.”
He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” said Mendoza.
Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer's and possibly didn't know his wife died a week earlier, medical examiner says
Saturday 8 March 2025 01:00 , Kevin PerryArakawa could have contracted hantavirus up to eight weeks before her death
Saturday 8 March 2025 00:00 , Kevin PerryWhile discussing the manner of Betsy Arakawa’s death, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell explained: “Hantavirus infection is characterized by flu like symptoms consisting of fever, muscle aches, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea that can progress to shortness of breath and cardiac or heart failure and lung failure.”
She added: “This occurs after a one to eight week exposure to excrement from, primarily, a particular mouse species that carries hantavirus.”
Learn more about the deadly disease here:
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
Pills found on scene unrelated to deaths, says medical examiner
Friday 7 March 2025 23:50 , Kevin PerryThere had previously been speculation about the scattered pills found near Betsy Arakawa’s body, but speaking today New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jerrell said they were unrelated to her death.
“Pills present on scene were thyroid medication which were being taken as prescribed and are not currently a concern for a contributory cause of death,” said Dr Jerrell.
Timeline of Betsy Arakawa's final days
Friday 7 March 2025 23:11Two days after collecting Zinna from the vet, Betsy Arakawa was seen in public for the final time on February 11.
Between 3:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., she was captured on surveillance footage shopping for groceries at Sprouts Farmers Market. She was later seen in a CVS Pharmacy in Santa Fe from around 4:12 to 4:20 p.m., before stopping at a local pet food store at about 4:54 p.m.
She used a remote control clicker in her car to enter the gated community where the Hackmans’ lived at 5:15 p.m.
After her death numerous emails were found unopened on her computer from February 11, and there was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after that date.
Read more here:
Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s shocking death from natural causes
Unclear whether Hackman was going to seek help
Friday 7 March 2025 23:03 , Kevin PerrySanta Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it was hard to tell, judging by where and how Hackman was found, if he had been going to seek help for his wife. “That's hard to answer,” Mendoza said.
“Again, it's hard to get into the frame of mind of what was happening at the time. And I don't know if we'll ever have the answer to that question, whether he was going to go for help.”
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, authorities say
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
Friday 7 March 2025 22:19 , Kevin PerryThe rare and potentially deadly disease needs to be treated early before severe symptoms develop.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Gene Hackman’s wife was killed by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is it?
Update on the Hackmans' deceased dog
Friday 7 March 2025 22:14 , Kevin PerryZinna (short for Zinfandel), the kelpie mix who was found dead in a crate not far from Betsy Arakawa, has been taken for necropsy at the Veterinary Diagnostic Services.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza said: “We'll be awaiting those results.”
He also revealed that Arakawa had collected Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on February 9.
“There was a procedure that was done with the with the dog, which may explain why their dog was in a crate at the residence,” said Mendoza.
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart, medical examiner says
Friday 7 March 2025 21:52 , Kevin PerryAlzheimer’s and a rare disease: Everything we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths
Friday 7 March 2025 21:47Today’s press conference has answered a lot of the questions that surrounded the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
Here’s everything we now know:
What we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s ‘suspicious’ deaths
Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer's and possibly didn't know his wife died a week earlier, medical examiner says
Friday 7 March 2025 21:41 , Kevin PerryGene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals
Friday 7 March 2025 21:27 , Kevin PerryOscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, medical examiner says
Friday 7 March 2025 21:20 , Kevin PerryOscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife may have died around one week apart, both from natural causes, Santa Fe authorities have revealed.
It is believed Betsy Arakawa likely died first.
Read more here:
Gene Hackman and his wife died one week apart from natural causes, authorities say
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's causes of death revealed
Friday 7 March 2025 21:15 , Kevin PerryAt the press conference, Dr Heather Jerrell, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Examiner, announced that Betsy Arakawa died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness caused by viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents.
Gene Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Hackman at last weekend's Oscars
Friday 7 March 2025 20:30 , Kevin PerryHackman and Arakawa’s marriage
Friday 7 March 2025 18:00 , Kevin PerryThe couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
Betsy Arakawa death: The classical pianist who was married to Gene Hackman since 1991
Gene Hackman's dog was misindentifed
Friday 7 March 2025 17:30 , Kevin PerryLaw enforcement authorities initially misidentified the dead dog found near Betsy Arakawa’s body as a German shepherd.
In fact, that dog was a kelpie mix named Zinna.
A German shepherd named Bear and a second dog named Nikita survived, with one found running loose on the property.
Here’s an update on everything we know so far ahead of this afternoon’s press conference:
What we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s ‘suspicious’ deaths
Hackman and Arakawa’s two surviving dogs
Saturday 1 March 2025 16:00 , Jacob StolworthyThe Santa Fe County Animal Control Division is reportedly working with Hackman’s family to “ensure the safety of the two dogs,” according to a press release.
Although one of the couple’s dogs was found dead at the scene, another dog was found alive next to Arakawa’s body while another was found running loose on the property.
Police will hold a press conference at 3 pm on Friday to provide an update on the investigation.
Hackman’s daughter says ‘despite his age, he was in very good physical condition’
Saturday 1 March 2025 12:30 , Jacob StolworthyGene Hackman’s daughter Leslie Anne has told The Daily Mail that “there was no indication that there was any problem” with her 95 year-old father’s health prior to his death.
“Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” she said, adding that he hadn’t had any major surgeries in the months leading up to his death.
“He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.”
She acknowledged that given his age, Hackman’s death was “not terribly shocking” and that Arakawa’s death at 63 raises more questions.
She went on to say that the couple had “a wonderful marriage,” saying: “I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive.”
“[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health. So I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.”
If Gene Hackman was a young actor in 2025, Hollywood would reject him
Saturday 1 March 2025 12:00 , Jacob StolworthyHackman, who was found dead this week at the age of 95, was one of Hollywood’s greatest actors – and one of its least conventional leading men.
It’s hard to imagine anyone like him reaching these levels of success now, writes Louis Chilton.
If Gene Hackman was a young actor in 2025, Hollywood would reject him
‘Send somebody up here real quick’: 911 call released
Saturday 1 March 2025 10:00 , Jacob StolworthyTMZ has obtained the 911 call that first alerted police to the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa.
In the call, an unidentified man who describes himself as the “caretaker for the subdivision” can be heard telling an operator to dispatch police to the couple’s residence.
When the operator asks for details about the “patients”, the caretaker replies that he doesn’t know.
“Send somebody up here real quick,” he says through tears. “I’m not inside the house, it’s closed. I can’t go in, but I see them. She’s laying down... over from the window.”
When the operator asks if they appear to be awake, he replies: “No, no, no, no.”
Asked if they’re moving, he contines: “No, dude, they’re not moving. Just send somebody out here. Really quick.”
The operator assures him that units are on the way, and the caretaker says he will meet them at the property’s “gatehouse.”
What we know about the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa
Saturday 1 March 2025 09:00 , Jacob StolworthySad and grisly detals about the couple’s death have surfaced in the last 24 hours.
A pair of maintenance workers found the bodies on Wednesday then alerted police, telling officers they hadn’t seen the homeowners in about two weeks. Itr’s believed Hackman may have been dead for a week before his body was found..
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza initially said that foul play was not suspected, although a search warrant affidavit has since ruled their deaths “suspicious” enough to require further investigation.
What we know about Gene Hackman and wife’s ‘suspicious’ deaths
Hackman and Arakawa’s marriage
Saturday 1 March 2025 08:00 , Jacob StolworthyThe couple married in 1991 and moved to New Mexico 12 months later. They began dating in the 1980s after meeting each other in California. Arakawa was a classically trained pianist but the two met at a gym where Arakawa was working.
The couple’s home is in a gated community just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital city. Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper, The New Mexican.
Arakawa was Hackman’s second wife following his divorce from Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.
Betsy Arakawa death: The classical pianist who was married to Gene Hackman since 1991
Hackman became a reclusive figure in later life, rarely making public appearances
Saturday 1 March 2025 07:36 , Jacob StolworthyHackman announced that he had retired from acting in 2008 while promoting his third novel Escape from Andersonville. His final film was the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport where he starred alongside Ray Romano.
In 2022 he made a rare public appearance to attend a show in Santa Fe’s Lensic Center for Performing Arts titled Broadway Confidential which delighted fans in the process.
Read The Independent’s report on Hackman’s rare outing below.
Rare new photo of retired actor Gene Hackman, 92, delights movie fans
Gene Hackman and wife's bodies showed signs of 'mummification'
Friday 28 February 2025 21:00 , Inga ParkelGene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa are believed to have been dead for at least several days before their bodies were discovered, authorities have said.
The bodies of the couple were found in their Santa Fe home Wednesday night. Arakawa’s body “showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition” and “mummifications in both hands and feet,” according to a search warrant.
Hackman’s body was found in “similar and consistent” condition.
Natural mummification occurs when the body dries out, turning tissue into a shrunken, hard mass. This typically happens in either dry and hot or very cold environments.
Read more:
Hollywood star died at the same time as wife of 34 years and one of their pet dogs
Gene Hackman frantic 911 call from maintenance man who found bodies
Friday 28 February 2025 20:45 , Inga ParkelSanta Fe mayor remembers couple as 'gracious' and 'friendly'
Friday 28 February 2025 20:30 , Inga ParkelThe mayor of Santa Fe, where Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa lived, has paid tribute to the couple.
Alan Webber said the pair were “just down to earth people, part of the community”, and remembered the French Connection actor as “gracious” and “friendly”.
He said of the “suspicious” circumstances surrounding their death: “We are all just going to be shaking our heads and wondering how this happened.”
Who was Betsy Arakawa?
Friday 28 February 2025 16:15 , Greg EvansHackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991 and reportedly began dating in the mid-Eighties after The French Connection star separated from his first wife, Faye Maltese in 1986.
The actor met Arakawa, who was reportedly born in Hawaii in the early Sixties, at a gym in California, where she was working part time while pursuing a career in classical music, per The New York Times.
By 1990, Hackman and Arakawa were living together in Santa Fe. In the same year, the Oscar winner underwent angioplasty after suffering congestive heart failure, which convinced him to retire from acting.
Arakawa had a successful career in her own right and was trained as a classical pianist. Alongside her musical talents, Hackman’s wife also helped design their Santa Fe home, which was featured in Architectural Digest in April 1990.
Betsy Arakawa death: The classical pianist who was married to Gene Hackman since 1990
Bill Murray says Gene Hackman was ‘really rough on’ Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums
Friday 28 February 2025 15:44 , Tom MurrayBill Murray has remembered Hackman as being a great but “difficult” actor who was “really rough” on The Royal Tenenbaums director Wes Anderson.
Hackman led Anderson’s 2001 comedy-drama as the Tenenbaum family patriarch. Murray, meanwhile, played neurologist Raleigh St. Clair.
“He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman. But he was really good,” Murray, 74, recalled of the legendary actor in an interview with the Associated Press.
“And he was really difficult, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy. Older, great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They’re really rough on them, and Gene was really rough on Wes,” the Groundhog Day star said.
Read more:
Bill Murray says Gene Hackman was ‘rough on’ Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums
Birdcage star Nathan Lane calls Hackman his 'favourite actor'
Friday 28 February 2025 14:15 , Greg EvansLane, who co-starred with Hackman in the 1996 hit comedy The Birdcage, has praised the actors’ talent.
“Gene Hackman was my favourite actor, as I think I told him every day we worked together on The Birdcage,” Lane said in a statement. “Getting to watch him up close, it was easy to see why he was one of our greatest. You could never catch him acting. Simple and true, thoughtful and soulful, with just a hint of danger. He was as brilliant in comedy as he was in drama and thankfully his film legacy will live on forever. It was a tremendous privilege to get to share the screen with him and remains one of my fondest memories. Rest in peace, Mr. Hackman.”
Santa Fe Mayor honours Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
Friday 28 February 2025 12:45 , Jacob StolworthyThe mayor of Santa Fe, where Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa lived, has paid tribute to the couple.
Alan Webber said the pair were “just down to earth people, part of the community”, and remembered the French Connection actor as “gracious” and “friendly”.
He said of the “suspicious” circumstances surrounding their death: “We are all just going to be shaking our heads and wondering how this happened.”
Flowers laid at the house from The Royal Tenenbaums
Friday 28 February 2025 12:15 , Greg EvansFlowers have been spotted at the New York mansion used in the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums.
Hackman played the father figure in the West Anderson film about a family of child prodigies. It also starred Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover and Bill Murray.
flowers at the tenebaum house pic.twitter.com/Fdfi3H29yt
— chris alsikkan™ (@AlsikkanTV) February 28, 2025
Kevin Costner gets choked up when talking about Hackman
Friday 28 February 2025 11:45 , Greg EvansCostner, who starred with Hackman in the 1987 thriller No Way Out, called the actor “the best he had ever worked with” during his career.
Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, the Yellowstone star became emotional when reminiscing about an interaction with Hackman while on set.
Kevin Costner speaking a few years back about working with Gene Hackman on " No Way Out " pic.twitter.com/bCdpm5UdTL
— Jay (@JibbaJabb) February 27, 2025
Hoosiers star says Hackman made everyone feel 'comfortable' on set
Friday 28 February 2025 11:21 , Greg EvansBrad Long, who starred alongside Hackman in one of his most beloved films, Hoosiers, has praised the icon’s professionalism on the set.
The basketball film saw Hackman play Coach Norman Dale in the 1986 movie, which was nominated for two Oscars.
Long, who was appearing in his debut role, told TMZ that Hackman was down-to-earth and “made us feel comfortable”.
"He came in and said, 'Hey, I want to go to some high school practices. I wanna watch the body language, I wanna watch the verbiage the coaches use,''' Long said
"I was always really impressed at that. Even at that level of his acting ability, he said, 'Hey, I can learn some things here.'''
"Gene always gave us really good advice," Long added.
"He said, 'The art of acting is not acting with a little bit more energy.' And, I think that was really helpful going through it. It was intimidating at first, but they didn't make us feel intimidated. They always made us feel welcome and Gene was always there to give us advice if we wanted it."
Gene Hackman: The brawling genius of film
Friday 28 February 2025 11:00 , Greg EvansDespite being voted ‘Least Likely to Succeed’ by his acting school classmates, Hackman became one of the greatest actors of our age, writes Martin Chilton
Hackman's wife had put him on a strict diet
Friday 28 February 2025 10:32 , Greg EvansDoug Lanham, a close friend and former business partner, of Hackman’s has revealed that Arakawa had put the actor on a strict diet and was very serious about his health.
Lanham told TMZ that Hackman was only able to “sneak a cheat meal“ when they were out golfing
Lanham, who was in the restaurant industry, said that Hackman would order either the “halibut or rice-paper salmon rather than a big steak” whenever he came to one of his establishments.
Police offer insight as to why a heater was next to Arakawa's body
Friday 28 February 2025 10:06 , Greg EvansWhen investigating the property, police reported that they found a black space heater next to Awakara’s body, which was discovered in the bathroom.
In a statement, an officer "advised he suspected the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground".
The report also stated that he "observed an orange prescription bottle on the countertop near the deceased female. The prescription bottle appeared opened with pills scattered on the countertop".
Frantic 911 call released from maintenance man who found bodies
Friday 28 February 2025 09:45 , Greg EvansAudio has been released from the maintenance man who called 911 after finding Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies
