Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe home in February. The cause of death was initially unclear, but authorities later confirmed Hackman died from natural causes, specifically coronary artery disease. Hackman, 94, had struggled with aging, including Alzheimer’s, which may have affected his awareness of his wife’s passing.
Betsy Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness transmitted by rodents. The couple’s deaths, just days apart, deeply affected their family, with Hackman’s daughters describing him as a beloved father and grandfather.
Hackman, a legendary actor known for films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, retired from acting in 2004. In his later years, he struggled with the effects of aging but remained active. His legacy as a film icon and devoted family man endures.
