Gene Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife

Santa Fe, New Mexico: Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s and died of heart disease probably days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died of a rare syndrome spread by mice, autopsy results released in New Mexico revealed.

The 95-year-old actor, 64-year-old Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead on February 26 in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home.

Authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.

Hackman’s heart disease and the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome that caused Arakawa’s death were announced at a press conference at the Santa Fe Sherriff’s office on Saturday (AEDT).

Chief Medical Investigator Dr Heather Jarrell said it was possible that Hackman was not aware his wife was deceased in their home.

“Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Jarrell said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.”

Hackman’s pacemaker last showed he had an abnormal heart rhythm on February 18, the day he probably died, Jarrell said.

Arakawa, a pianist, is believed to have died around February 11.

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in June 1993. Credit: AP

The couple had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s and were active in the city’s art community and culinary scene. In recent years, they were seen less often in town as Hackman’s health deteriorated. They lived a very private life before their deaths, said county sheriff Adan Mendoza.

A caretaker at their gated community discovered the couple dead. Hackman was found in the home’s entryway. Arakawa and a dog were found in a bathroom, with scattered thyroid pills from an open prescription bottle on the bathroom counter. The medication wasn’t listed as contributing to her death, Jarrell said.

Arakawa had picked up one of her dogs in a crate on February 9 from a Santa Fe veterinarian, which may explain why the animal was found dead in the crate, Mendoza said. State Veterinarian Erin Phipps said the dog may have died of starvation. Investigators found the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was on February 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery store.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings. It is typically reported in spring and summer, often caused by exposure to mouse droppings in homes, sheds or poorly ventilated areas.

Jarrell said it was not known how quickly Arakawa died.

Both Hackman and Arakawa appeared to have suddenly fallen to the floor, and neither showed signs of blunt force trauma.

One door was found ajar at the back of the house. Two of the couple’s surviving dogs had used it to move in and out, Mendoza said.

Hackman, a former Marine known for his raspy voice, appeared in more than 80 films, as well as on television and the stage during a lengthy career that started in the early 1960s.

He earned his first Oscar nomination for his breakout role as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde. He won an Oscar for best actor in 1972 for his portrayal of detective Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, and in 1993 won an Oscar for best supporting actor for Unforgiven.

Reuters, AP