The legendary actor Gene Hackman has passed away from natural causes, merely days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died due to a rare respiratory virus, according to New Mexico authorities.
A Tragic End for the Hollywood Icon
Dr. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical investigator for New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator, confirmed that Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease spread through rodent droppings. Meanwhile, Hackman, 95, died of heart disease, with his advanced Alzheimer’s disease playing a contributing role.
The couple’s partially mummified bodies were discovered last month at their New Mexico residence, raising initial concerns about the cause of death. Investigators later determined that Hackman may have survived up to a week after Arakawa’s passing, likely unaware of her death.
“He was in very poor health, with significant heart disease, which ultimately led to his passing,” Jarrell stated at a press conference.
The Discovery of the Bodies
Authorities detailed how the couple’s absence was noticed when a maintenance worker failed to get a response at their door. Security personnel peered through a window, spotted the lifeless bodies, and immediately alerted the police. One of their three dogs was also found dead, though the other two survived.
Despite the mysterious circumstances, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office ruled out foul play. Initial tests found no traces of carbon monoxide poisoning, and there were no signs of trauma.
Further investigation uncovered that Arakawa had last been active on February 11, responding to emails and running errands. That day marked her final known movements before she succumbed to the virus. Hackman’s pacemaker showed its last recorded activity on February 17, suggesting that he died shortly thereafter.
The Legacy of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, left an indelible mark on Hollywood with roles in The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman. He retired in the early 2000s and devoted his later years to painting and writing novels, distancing himself from Hollywood’s social scene.
Betsy Arakawa, born in Hawaii, was a concert pianist and former fitness club manager. She met Hackman in the mid-1980s, and the two shared a long-lasting marriage, residing in their Santa Fe estate, a gated property in a secluded community.
Santa Fe, known as a refuge for artists and celebrities, became the couple’s sanctuary in their later years. Hackman even served on the board of trustees at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and invested in local businesses.
Their deaths mark the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of artistic achievement and private devotion. With Hackman’s storied career and Arakawa’s passion for music, the couple’s influence extended far beyond their quiet life in New Mexico.
What remains is a lingering question—how did Arakawa contract the rare hantavirus, and could it have been prevented? For now, Hollywood mourns the loss of one of its greatest stars, while New Mexico authorities close an investigation that, though tragic, leaves no suspicion of foul play.
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