Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, were quietly laid to rest in a private funeral service held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, more than a month after their bodies were discovered inside their home.
The service, kept small and intimate, was attended by the late actor’s three estranged children—Elizabeth, Leslie, and Christopher—who traveled to Santa Fe to pay their final respects, as confirmed by Fox News Digital and People magazine.
Betsy, a classical pianist, reportedly passed away due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but serious respiratory disease spread by rodents.
Gene Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor best known for his roles in films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, died from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Alzheimer’s disease was also listed as a significant contributing factor to his death.
The shocking discovery of the couple’s bodies was made on February 26, inside their home in Santa Fe, where they had been living together for over 30 years.
A welfare check was requested that day after Hackman’s daughter Leslie called local authorities.
According to dispatch reports released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, Leslie had received a call earlier that day informing her of the discovery and asked officers to check on the house, though she was unsure of the exact address at the time.
That same afternoon, at around 1:43 p.m., local dispatchers received a separate 911 call reporting an “unattended death.”
When authorities arrived, they found both Gene and Betsy, along with one of their dogs, deceased in the residence. The state medical examiner officially arrived at the scene later that night, around 10:53 p.m.
At first, officials were unsure of the exact timeline of events, prompting a more detailed investigation. Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya initially told Fox News Digital that it appeared the couple had died around the same time.
However, further examination revealed that Betsy likely passed away first, with evidence pointing to a possible date of February 11.
Investigators found that she had used her phone to make calls on February 12, which helped narrow down the timeline.
Gene Hackman, according to law enforcement, appears to have survived for several days after his wife’s death.
The last known activity on his pacemaker was recorded on February 18, which officials now believe is the most accurate estimate of his final day alive. His body was not discovered until nine days later, when the welfare check was conducted.
The discovery of both bodies under such unclear circumstances led investigators to initially label the situation as “suspicious.”
A search warrant affidavit later confirmed that detectives wanted to thoroughly examine the home and any other evidence that might explain what happened.
While no signs of external trauma were found on either Gene or Betsy, a full criminal investigation was launched by New Mexico authorities.
Family members have not made many public statements about the incident. However, the quiet memorial service and their sudden reunion in Santa Fe hint at the emotional weight the event carried for Hackman’s children, who have reportedly had a distant relationship with the actor in recent years.
Gene Hackman was a private person, especially in his later years. He had largely stepped away from public life after retiring from acting in the early 2000s.
He and Betsy lived a quiet life in New Mexico, far from the Hollywood spotlight that had defined much of his career.
The nature of their deaths has drawn public attention not only due to Hackman’s fame but also because of the unusual timeline and medical conditions involved.
Hantavirus is rare and deadly, with symptoms often resembling the flu in the early stages but escalating rapidly. Meanwhile, cardiovascular disease combined with Alzheimer’s can significantly impact a person’s ability to function and seek help, especially when living alone.
While officials do not suspect foul play at this time, they have not closed the investigation completely. Authorities say they are waiting on a few more test results and records before finalizing the cause and manner of death for both individuals.
For now, the focus remains on remembering Gene Hackman not just as a legendary actor, but as a husband and father whose life ended under tragic circumstances.
As his children gathered one last time to say goodbye, the private ceremony marked a quiet farewell to one of Hollywood’s most respected talents and the woman who stood beside him for more than three decades.
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