Hollywood legend Gene Hackman passed away from heart disease a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died of hantavirus in their New Mexico home, authorities confirmed on Friday. Due to his advanced Alzheimer’s disease, Hackman, 95, was likely unaware of his wife’s passing, said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell.
Both deaths were ruled as natural causes. Authorities found Hackman in the entryway of their home, with evidence of severe heart disease, while Arakawa, 65, was discovered in a bathroom. Her death was linked to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but fatal disease spread by rodent droppings.
Investigators determined Arakawa was last active on February 11, visiting a pharmacy, pet store and grocery store before returning home. Hackman’s pacemaker showed abnormal activity on February 18, the day he likely passed away. Their bodies were found over a week later, partially mummified due to Santa Fe’s dry climate.
Authorities believe Hackman, suffering from severe Alzheimer’s, was unable to process or respond to his wife’s death. Dr. Michael Baden, a former NYC medical examiner, noted that individuals with such advanced cognitive impairment usually require full-time care. Arakawa had been Hackman’s primary caregiver until her sudden passing.
One of the couple’s three dogs was also found dead, though authorities are awaiting necropsy results. While hantavirus is uncommon, it is occasionally reported in New Mexico, with this being the first confirmed case in the state this year.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner known for roles in The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman, retired from acting in the early 2000s, dedicating his later years to painting and writing. Arakawa, a former concert pianist, met Hackman in the 1980s while working at a California gym. The couple had been longtime residents of Santa Fe, investing in local businesses and cultural institutions.
Their passing has left friends and fans mourning. “We should have checked on him,” said Stuart Ashman, a local acquaintance. “It’s just really sad—especially that she died a week before him. My God.”