It has been a couple of months since the world lost Gene Hackman, a legendary Oscar-winning actor, whose death was marked with a profound tragedy and isolation.
On February 26, 2025, the Hollywood icon and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found lifeless at their secluded home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
At the time, the cause of his death remained unknown. But now, the final autopsy report sheds light on the harrowing circumstances surrounding Hackman’s death, revealing horrifying details about his final days.
The Heartbreaking Final Days of Gene Hackman
The official report from the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico revealed that Hackman had not eaten for an extended period of time prior to his death in February.
As obtained by Page Six, the report indicated that Hackman had trace amounts of acetone in his body, with the toxicology test showing acetone levels at 5.3 mg/dl.
This amount is associated with prolonged fasting, as the production of acetone can be caused by diabetic- or fasting-induced ketoacidosis.
The autopsy also confirmed that Hackman has a “history of congestive heart failure” and “severe chronic hypertensive changes” in his kidneys.
In addition, the medical examiner’s report noted “neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.”
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Causes of Death
During a press conference in March, New Mexico officials revealed that Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with “advanced Alzheimer’s disease” being a contributing factor.
They also found there was no food in his stomach, meaning he had not recently eaten.
Arakawa, on the other hand, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-transmitted virus, which Hackman tested negative for. She was 65 years old.
There were assumptions that the classical pianist first died on February 12, followed by her husband on February 18, when his pacemaker last showed signs of activity.
Officials believe Hackman had no idea he was already living with his wife’s dead body for days due to his advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s quite possible he was not aware she was deceased,” chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said.
The couple’s dead bodies were found in separate rooms, partially mummified, after a neighbor requested a welfare check.
One of their three dogs was also found dead in their home, though there was no sign of foul play, trauma, or carbon monoxide poisoning. The other two dogs survived.
Gene Hackman’s Declining Health
Hackman’s health had been declining for years. He had a bi-ventricular pacemaker implanted in 2019, suffered from chronic kidney disease, and was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
“You are talking about very severe Alzheimer’s disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care of him until she passed away,” Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, added during the press conference.
The autopsy also confirmed that he underwent multiple heart surgeries and had significant kidney damage due to long-standing high blood pressure.
Medical examiners concluded that Hackman’s cognitive decline likely prevented him from understanding or responding to his wife’s death, and that he was in no condition to care for himself during his final days.
Hackman’s manner of death only deepened the heartbreak of his mourners—a sharp contrast to the once-beloved actor known for his strength and vitality on screen.
Yet, his legacy as one of Hollywood’s greatest actors endures, though the circumstances of his passing serve as a reminder that life is far different from the movies.