Actor Gene Hackman passed away due to heart disease, approximately a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to hantavirus at their hillside home in New Mexico. The tragic sequence of events unfolded amidst Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's disease, which left him in a severely compromised state of health, as confirmed by authorities on Friday.
Chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell detailed that Hackman, 95, displayed significant heart disease, which ultimately led to his death. The couple's bodies were discovered on February 26 without suspicion of foul play, with initial tests ruling out carbon monoxide poisoning.
Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference.
“Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease,” Jarrell said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death.”
Dr. Jarrell noted that Arakawa, 65, was last seen alive on February 11, engaging in routine activities in their gated neighborhood before her passing. Hackman's pacemaker showed activity until February 18, suggesting his death occurred shortly thereafter, likely on the same day.
Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said.
“It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased,” Jarrell said.
Given Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's, Dr. Michael Baden, a former NYC medical examiner, emphasised his profound impairment, making him possibly unaware of his wife's passing. Arakawa's death was linked to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease spread by infected rodent droppings.
The couple's deaths, discovered over a week apart, underscored the challenges posed by Hackman's condition in coping with the loss. Their three dogs were also affected, though dogs do not contract hantavirus.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of Hackman, a revered Hollywood figure renowned for his roles in films like “The French Connection” and “Superman.” His passing, amidst personal tragedy and health struggles, marks a poignant moment for those who knew and admired him.