Gene Hackman suffered from Alzheimer’s and died one week after his wife Besty, who he may not have been ‘aware’ had passed

Actor Gene Hackman And Wife Betsy Hackman
Photo Credit: MediaPunch/INSTARimages

Legendary actor Gene Hackmanโ€˜s cause of death has been revealed as severe cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimerโ€™s disease playing a significant contributing role, New Mexico officials announced Friday (March 7, 2025). The 95-year-old screen icon lived for approximately a week after his wife, Betsy Hackman, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndromeโ€”a severe respiratory condition transmitted through contact with infected rodentsโ€”in their shared living room, according to officials.

The two-time Oscar winner, whose illustrious Hollywood career spanned four decades, and his wife of 30 years, accomplished classical pianist Betsy Hackman, were discovered in different rooms of their residence during a wellness check on Feb. 26. While no external trauma was evident on either body, investigators noted that Hackmanโ€™s pacemaker had recorded its final reading on Feb. 17, suggesting he had been deceased for at least seven days before being found in a mud room adjacent to the coupleโ€™s kitchen. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza initially stated that foul play wasnโ€™t suspected in the deaths of the couple, who had been living quietly in their Old Sunset Trail Road home since stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight in 2004.

The autopsy revealed that Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimerโ€™s disease, and officials suggested he might have been unaware of his wifeโ€™s passing during his final days. Medical experts noted that while the iconic actorโ€™s exact mental state before and after his wifeโ€™s death remains unclear, he was found in โ€œvery poor healthโ€ with no food in his stomach, though he wasnโ€™t dehydrated when he died.

Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman on July 17, 1984. Photo Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch

โ€œWe cannot definitively determine the exact time or date of death through any reliable scientific method,โ€ stated Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, during a Friday press conference outside the Santa Fe Sheriffโ€™s Office. โ€œMr. Hackmanโ€™s pacemaker data showed cardiac activity on Feb. 17, followed by atrial fibrillation on Feb. 18. Given the circumstances, we can reasonably conclude that Ms. Hackman died first, with Feb. 11 being her last confirmed day alive.โ€

During the press conference, Jarrell revealed the findings from both Hackmansโ€™ autopsies. She detailed that Gene Hackmanโ€™s examination showed severe cardiac disease, including signs of multiple heart surgeries and previous heart attacks. The beloved actorโ€™s autopsy also revealed significant kidney damage resulting from long-term hypertension.

The examination of his brain tissue indicated advanced Alzheimerโ€™s disease, along with blood vessel alterations in the brain, which Jarrell explained were secondary effects of chronic high blood pressure, as she informed reporters on Friday.

Tragically, Betsy Hackman succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndromeโ€”a severe respiratory illness transmitted through contact with infected rodentsโ€”at least a week before what investigators believe to be Gene Hackmanโ€™s passing. The virus, part of a family that spreads to humans through rodent contact, typically manifests symptoms within one to eight weeks of exposure. Initial symptoms can mirror those of the flu before rapidly progressing to severe respiratory distress, dangerous drops in blood pressure, and eventual organ failure.

NYC Sightings
October 24, 2007: Gene Hackman spotted while out and about in New York City today. Photo Credit: Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com

Surveillance footage captured Betsy Hackmanโ€™s final public appearances on Feb. 11, as she visited several local establishments including CVS, a market, and a pet supply store, Sheriff Mendoza reported. He noted that her computer showed no activity after what appears to be her last email exchange with a massage therapist that same day, marking her final known communication outside the residence.

โ€œWeโ€™ve confirmed there was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after Feb. 11, 2025,โ€ the Sheriff stated, adding that authorities were collaborating with state police โ€œto get the information from [cell] phones.โ€

During Fridayโ€™s briefing, Dr. Jarrell confirmed that Gene Hackmanโ€™s autopsy revealed no evidence of hantavirus infection.

Officials at the press conference took a moment to correct previous reports, emphasizing that Betsy Hackman should not be referenced by her maiden name, Arakawa.

Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman on April 18, 2006. Photo Credit: MediaPunch/INSTARimages

Among the coupleโ€™s three dogs, Zinnia, an Australian Kelpie mix, was discovered deceased in a crate near the bathroom where Betsy Hackman was found. Officials explained that the dogโ€™s recent surgery likely explained its separation from the coupleโ€™s two German Shepherds in the crated space.

The investigation into the Hackmansโ€™ deaths began on Feb. 26 when authorities discovered the bodies of the couple and their dog at the residence. Reports indicated a concerning pattern of isolationโ€”Gene Hackman hadnโ€™t communicated with one of his daughters for months, while Betsy had stopped her regular weekly calls with her mother in Hawaii.

At Fridayโ€™s press conference, Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico Department of Healthโ€™s state public health veterinarian, shared crucial information about hantavirus, noting that the strain common to the American southwest carries a mortality rate of 38 to 50 percent. She emphasized that person-to-person transmission of the virus doesnโ€™t occur in the United States.


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