Preliminary autopsy results have not determined the cause of death for Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. However, authorities have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said on Friday.
The couple’s bodies, which were discovered on Wednesday, suggested they had died several days earlier. No signs of foul play were present. Mendoza noted that an examination of the 95-year-old Hackman’s pacemaker revealed it had stopped functioning on February 17, possibly placing his death nine days before their discovery.
Hackman was found in the entryway of their home, while 65-year-old Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom, lying on her side. A space heater was found near her head, likely pulled down when she collapsed. Pills were scattered next to an open prescription bottle on the counter, raising questions about whether medication played a role. Toxicology reports, which could clarify this, are expected in the coming weeks.
Sheriff Mendoza said that the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine whether other medical factors contributed to their deaths.
Hackman, a revered Hollywood icon, left a lasting mark on cinema. His performances in films like The French Connection (1972), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, and Unforgiven (1992), which secured him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, cemented his legacy. He also gained recognition for his roles in Hoosiers, The Conversation and Mississippi Burning before retiring in the early 2000s.