Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa Die of Natural Causes in NM
Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Die in Tragic Sequence
US officials revealed on March 7, 2025, that actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease at his Santa Fe home. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare lung condition, while battling Alzheimer’s. The couple passed last month, with Hackman likely surviving alone for a week after Arakawa’s death. Their bodies, found February 26, paint a haunting picture of their final days.
Heart Disease Claims a Hollywood Icon
Gene Hackman, 95, fought cardiovascular disease until it took his life around February 18. Autopsy reports highlight severe heart damage, a battle he waged silently. Known for The French Connection, he retired in 2004 to a quiet New Mexico life. His death followed a week of solitude, unaware his wife lay deceased nearby.
Rare Hantavirus Strikes Betsy Arakawa
Betsy Arakawa, 65, died around February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, officials confirmed. The rodent-borne illness, rare with only 136 cases in New Mexico since 1975, ravaged her lungs. Alzheimer’s clouded her final moments, adding tragedy. She likely passed after errands, leaving Hackman in their home alone.
A Week Alone with Death
Investigators say Hackman endured seven days with Arakawa’s body in their Santa Fe residence. Found in separate rooms—him in the mudroom, her in the bathroom—the scene stunned authorities. A dead dog hinted at hantavirus exposure, while two pets survived. The timeline underscores their isolated end.
Mourning a Private Power Couple
Hackman and Arakawa, married since 1991, shunned fame for a reclusive life of art and music. His Oscar-winning legacy meets her pianist grace in tributes flooding X. Their deaths, natural yet poignant, close a chapter. Fans honor a love story cut short by cruel fate.
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