Gene Hackman Dies of Heart Disease Days After Wife’s Tragic Passing
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, 95, died from heart disease and other complications, just days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, lost her life to a rare virus. An autopsy report released on Friday in New Mexico confirmed that Hackman had reached an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s before his death.
Authorities discovered the couple and one of their dogs dead on February 26 in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home. Investigators determined that Hackman died from heart disease, while Arakawa, 64, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness spread by mice.
During a press conference at the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that Hackman’s Alzheimer’s likely prevented him from recognizing his wife’s passing. When a reporter asked if Hackman had been aware o...