The world is mourning the loss of legendary actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead in his Santa Fe home this past Wednesday. Alongside him were his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog — both also tragically deceased.
Hackman, 95, had lived a long and fruitful life, but the untimely passing of his younger wife, Betsy, who was only 63, has raised many questions.
It’s a deeply sad moment, and now, Gene’s daughter has opened up about what she believes might have caused the tragic deaths.
Did a welfare check
In an interview with TMZ, Elizabeth Jean Hackman shared that the family isn’t entirely sure what led to the deaths, but they suspect carbon monoxide poisoning could be to blame. “The house is fairly modern, built in 2000,” Elizabeth explained, “but we don’t know if there were any issues with gas leaks or if there were any recent service calls to the property.”
Authorities responded quickly after a neighbor raised concerns, performing a welfare check on the property. Deputies found the bodies and were joined by gas company and fire department personnel, who helped ensure there were no lingering toxic fumes that could endanger anyone else.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Elizabeth painted a picture of her father’s peaceful retirement. Gene and Betsy had settled in New Mexico after his retirement in 2004, where Gene pursued a quiet life of painting. Elizabeth revealed that her father’s favorite movie was The French Connection, a role that helped cement his place as one of Hollywood’s finest actors.
All told, the actor featured in over 70 films over the course of his career. In 2009, Hackman shared that the reason behind his taking a step away from the bright lights of Hollywood was a stress test which alarmed his doctors.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” he told Empire. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
While Elizabeth didn’t comment directly on his health, she did recall a rare public appearance just last March, where Gene was seen walking with a cane, with Betsy supporting him by his side.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not found any signs of foul play, though the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office, led by Sheriff Adan Mendoza, is keeping all possibilities open as they continue to look into the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss.
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991. The former had celebrated his 95th birthday in late January, but a public sighting last year drew concern form some fans over how frail he appeared.
Hackman spent four amazing decades in Hollywood forming a stellar body of work. The actor and author retired from his career in front of the cameras quietly in the late 2000s. He did so after hinting in a 2004 Larry King interview that he had no productions lined up for the future.
Gene Hackman’s death, along with the loss of his wife and their dog, leaves a hole in the world of film and in the hearts of many who admired his work.
The Hackman family continues to grieve, but they are determined to uncover the truth behind this devastating event.