Gene Hackman’s Health and Final Months – What a Close Friend Revealed
Gene Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, lived a tranquil existence away from the spotlight in Hollywood for over 30 years. Unanswered questions have been raised by their unexpected deaths.
On February 26, 2025, the renowned actor and his spouse were discovered dead inside their Santa Fe residence. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are now the focus of an expanding investigation after years of prioritizing simplicity and privacy.
Born Eugene Allen Hackman in San Bernardino, California, on January 30, 1930, Gene Hackman rose to prominence as one of Hollywood’s most admired actors.
He pursued acting after enlisting in the US Marines, and his performance as Buck Barrow in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967) brought him fame.
His legacy in cinema was cemented when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in “The French Connection” (1971).
“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972), “Young Frankenstein” (1974), “Superman” (1978), “Unforgiven” (1992), and “Crimson Tide” (1995) are some of Gene’s best-known works.
He was a household figure for decades because of his versatility, which allowed him to switch between humor, action, and drama with ease.
In addition to his prosperous job, Gene lived with his spouse, Betsy Arakawa. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 15, 1959, Betsy gained notoriety for her roles on “Card Sharks” and at major award events like the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.
Both of them recently died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they lived in privacy.
There was “no external trauma to either individual,” according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office’s preliminary autopsy results.
Together with their dead dog, Gene and Betsy were found in their New Mexico home. The reason and manner of their deaths have not yet been established by authorities.
Carbon monoxide and toxicology testing were requested for both, and official autopsy and toxicology findings are still pending.
Investigators have not completely ruled out foul play, even though it is not officially suspected. The affidavit requesting a search warrant stated that the situation was deemed suspicious enough to call for a comprehensive search and inquiry.
No evidence of forced entry, struggle, or theft was discovered at the scene, according to Sheriff Adan Mendoza. Before they were discovered, the couple seemed to have been dead for a few days.
Betsy’s body was found on the floor of a restroom next to an open prescription medication bottle. The couple’s dog was discovered dead inside the bathroom closet, and a space heater was discovered close by.
Investigators suspected that Gene may have collapsed unexpectedly, and his body was found in a different room next to the kitchen.
On Wednesday, February 26, just before 2:00 p.m. local time, a caregiver found the bodies and called 911.
Distressed and emotional, the caller informed dispatchers that they were unable to enter the residence but could see two unresponsive individuals through the window.
The front entrance of the house was discovered open and unguarded, according to investigators, and there was no apparent indication of any natural gas or carbon monoxide leakage.
Law enforcement was also able to search for guns, banned narcotics, flammable items, and other possible evidence thanks to the search warrant.
The New Mexico medical investigator’s office estimates that it will take four to six weeks to compile the final medical examiner’s findings.
Authorities stressed that they are taking a cautious approach to the issue, making sure that all relevant information is accurately recorded before drawing any judgments.
Although there is no formal suspicion of foul play, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are being described as “mysterious.”
Both Gene’s and Betsy’s hands and feet were mummified, and investigators observed obvious symptoms of decomposition, such as facial bloating.
Mummification usually starts more than two weeks after death, according to Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya, which begs the issue of how long the pair may have been dead before they were discovered.
According to Judy Melinek, a forensic pathologist, the obvious mummification clearly showed that both people had been dead for at least a few days.
In order to get a better picture of the couple’s last days, she also underlined that detectives would need to look at important timings, such the last time mail was picked up or the last time the couple spoke with friends or family.
The results of the autopsy may be important in addressing these issues, Melinek continued.
The timeline was made much more complex by information obtained from Gene’s pacemaker. Sheriff Adan claims that Gene’s “last event” was recorded by the pacemaker on February 17, indicating that he most likely passed away nine days prior to the discovery of his body.
Authorities took a number of items out of the couple’s house as part of their investigation.
Two green cell phones, a 2025 monthly planner, and three prescription drugs—Tylenol, Diltiazem, which is usually used to treat high blood pressure, and a thyroid medication—were all listed in the inventory.
Records from the medical diagnostics service MyQuest were also gathered by investigators.
In a 2008 interview with Reuters, Gene formally announced his retirement from acting after an incredible career spanning more than 40 years. According to him, “I’m not going to act any longer.”
He acknowledged that he missed the craft itself, but he clarified that the business’s stress had gotten to be too much.
“The compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore,” he stated.
Gene reinvented himself as a novelist after retiring. The “Split Decisions” alum co-wrote a series of historical adventure novels with his buddy and neighbor Daniel Lenihan.
“Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War” was released in 2008, “Justice for None” in 2004, and their debut novel, “Wake of the Perdido Star,” in 1999.
Gene claimed that writing helped him feel in control and at ease. “It’s very relaxing for me,” he said in January 2020 in an interview with Empire Online.
Gene’s family history was the source of his passion for storytelling. His grandfather and uncle were both reporters, and his father was a printer for the “Commercial-News” in Danville, Illinois.
In many respects, his creative spirit naturally flowed into his writing. When he briefly thought about acting, he even wrote fresh monologues for his son, adding a personal touch to his writing.
Even though Gene avoided the limelight, he had an adventurous existence. He adopted an active, grounded lifestyle in Santa Fe, according to DailyMail.
He was seen riding an e-bike around town well into his 80s and once dropped a man with a single punch when in his 70s. As licensed pilots, Gene and Betsy frequently flew their Pitts Special aircraft.
In the months preceding his passing, Gene’s health had been deteriorating, according to friends close to the couple.
According to Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, lifelong family friends, and their son Aaron, the renowned actor had recently become “essentially kind of home-bound” in an exclusive interview with People.
Aaron stated that Betsy made an attempt to keep Gene both mentally and physically active by setting up daily puzzles and Zoom yoga sessions for him, while Barbara mentioned that Gene had stopped riding his bike around the neighborhood approximately a year prior.
The Lenihan family claims that Betsy was in good health and continued to be active and healthy.
Aaron went on to say that she was especially wary of COVID-19 and frequently wore a mask when she visited pals.
According to reports, the couple was incredibly close and committed to one another. They also loved entertaining guests at their house, which had a dedicated studio area where Betsy kept her grand pianos and Gene kept his art studio.
People recalled Barbara saying, “Gene was as proud of Betsy as she was of him.”
After getting married in 1991, the famous couple had led a peaceful life in Santa Fe. According to accounts, Gene was still active as recently as 2020 and enjoyed riding his bike, doing handyman chores, and working in the yard.
The late actor had a close relationship with his three children from a former marriage: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, despite the fact that Gene and Betsy never had children together.
According to reports, Gene had been increasingly closer to his children and grandchildren in the years preceding his passing. Despite their preference for a quiet existence away from the spotlight, Gene and Betsy were occasionally spotted together in public.
An excursion in late March 2024 was one of the final occasions they were photographed.
With his left hand gripping Betsy Arakawa’s arm, Gene was seen leaning on his black cane with his right. The pair was spotted having a good time at Albuquerque’s Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.
Conspiracy theories arose immediately after the deaths of Gene and his wife were reported. “Gene Hackman and his wife are murder victims, some [expletive] did it and staged it,” fellow Academy Award nominee actor Randy Quaid wrote on X. “Stop discussing the movies he appears in; this is how they get away with killing well-known people.”
Randy also said he knew at least six celebrities who passed away in similar suspicious ways, likening Gene Hackman’s death to that of Heath Ledger and David Carradine.
Investigators have not discovered any proof of foul play despite this conjecture, and the final toxicology and autopsy results should offer more definitive answers.
READ MORE STORIES:-
