Actor Gene Hackman passed away from heart disease a week after the death of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, from hantavirus, authorities revealed Friday. Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, likely was unaware of his wife’s death, as he was in a severely impaired state.
Both deaths were ruled as natural causes, confirmed Dr. Heather Jarrell, the state’s chief medical examiner. Hackman, 95, showed signs of significant heart disease, while Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare, potentially fatal disease transmitted by rodent droppings.
Hackman’s pacemaker showed signs of abnormal heart rhythm on February 18, the day he likely died, while Arakawa’s last known activity was on February 11, when she visited a pharmacy, pet store, and grocery before returning to their Santa Fe home.
Although no foul play was suspected, authorities found Hackman’s body in the entryway of the couple’s home, with Arakawa’s body discovered in a bathroom. A month’s worth of thyroid medication was found near Arakawa, but it was not listed as a contributing factor to her death.
Hantavirus infections are more common in the spring and summer, usually from exposure to mouse droppings in poorly ventilated areas. This was the first confirmed hantavirus case in New Mexico this year.
A dog was also found dead in the home, though two others survived. A necropsy will be conducted on the dog, which authorities initially misidentified as being sick from hantavirus. Investigators are also examining cellphone data as part of an ongoing investigation.
Hackman, renowned for his roles in The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman, retired from Hollywood in the early 2000s. His wife, Arakawa, a concert pianist and former gym worker, met Hackman in the 1980s. The couple lived in a stucco, Pueblo-style home in Santa Fe, a city known for its artistic community.
While Hackman’s Hollywood career spanned decades, he spent his retirement painting, writing novels, and serving on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. The couple was involved in local business ventures, staying far from the Hollywood limelight. Sourced online/ia/mnm
