We Finally Know Gene Hackman's Cause Of Death

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman was found dead at 95 in his Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025. Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, age 65, was also found dead in the home, as well as one of their dogs. One week after they were discovered, New Mexico officials released the cause of Hackman's death. Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell announced on March 7, 2025, that Hackman died of heart disease and complications from Alzheimer's disease. 

While Hackman and Arakawa were found on February 26, investigators claim that they both died several days prior. Dr. Jarrell noted that the last time Hackman's pacemaker was detected was on February 18, 2025, and lists that as the likely date of his death. Arakawa, who was Hackman's second wife, is reported to have died of hantavirus, a virus that is spread through the waste of rodents, and can cause respiratory infections as well as lung and heart problems. Based on a sudden drop in email correspondence from Arakawa, investigators surmise that she died around February 11 and was not found sooner because of Hackman's advanced Alzheimer's. Hackman is survived by his three children, whom he shared with his first wife, Faye Maltese. 

Gene Hackman had a history of heart issues prior to his death in February 2025, and had undergone surgery to address these concerns. Friends of Hackman and his wife, couple Daniel and Barbara Lenihan and their son, Aaron Lenihan, spoke to People after their unexpected deaths and noted how much Hackman's health had deteriorated. This was compounded by Hackman's increasing Alzheimer's disease. The Lenihans explained that in the months before Hackman's death, he had become increasingly home-bound, and stopped cycling around the neighborhood, an activity he had previously enjoyed often. Aaron credited Hackman's wife with keeping him so healthy. "Betsy tried to keep him kind of active and engaged," Aaron explained. "She was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible." They noted that Hackman had started to notably decline mentally in the few months before his death. 

Conversely, Arakawa was in excellent health and was very fit and active, the Lenihan family told People, so her sudden death by hantavirus was extremely unexpected. Arakawa died first, and Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said that Hackman's declining health meant that he likely didn't know. "He was in a very poor state of health," Jarrell explained, per the New York Post. "He was in an advanced state of Alzheimer's disease and it was quite possible he did not know that she was deceased." Authorities stressed that there was no foul play in either of their deaths.