More than a week after Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home, officials have confirmed their causes of death.
Hackman, 95, passed away due to complications from cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s, likely around February 18—approximately one week after his wife’s death. Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal illness transmitted through rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
At a press conference, Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator, stated that Hackman suffered from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.” She noted that the actor had advanced Alzheimer’s and significant heart disease, which ultimately led to his death.
Arakawa’s passing was attributed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease that initially presents flu-like symptoms before progressing to severe respiratory distress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms can escalate rapidly, with some patients deteriorating within 24 to 48 hours without medical intervention.
Authorities believe Hackman remained in the home with his deceased wife for about a week before his own passing. Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County noted that Hackman had no food in his stomach, suggesting he had not eaten recently, though there were no signs of dehydration.
Given the severity of his condition, officials suggested Hackman may not have been aware that his wife had passed away. “It’s quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased,” Dr. Jarrell stated, though she acknowledged the difficulty in determining his exact state of awareness.
The tragic deaths of the beloved actor and his wife have left fans and the film industry mourning, as Hackman was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation.
