SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO — Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s disease and sadly passed away due to heart disease and other contributing factors, just days after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to a rare virus spread by mice. This tragic news was disclosed during an autopsy results press conference held on Friday in New Mexico.
Hackman, aged 95, and Arakawa, aged 64, along with one of their dogs, were found deceased on February 26 in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home.
The announcement regarding Hackman’s heart disease and the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome that led to Arakawa’s demise was made by Sheriff Adan Mendoza at the press conference. Authorities indicated that Arakawa likely passed away around February 11, as determined by the date of her last email.
According to Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, Hackman, who died on February 18, may not have been aware of his wife’s death due to his advanced Alzheimer’s condition. Jarrell stated, “It is quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.” A reporter raised questions about this during the press briefing.
Hantavirus is known to be a rare disease in the United States, with most cases occurring in the western states, including New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. In northern New Mexico, the virus is primarily transmitted through the droppings and urine of deer mice. The disease often spreads through the air when individuals clean areas where mice have been present, and it initially presents flu-like symptoms, potentially leading to severe heart and lung complications with a fatality rate of approximately 38% to 50%.
In recent years, New Mexico has reported between one and seven cases of hantavirus annually, according to health data. State health inspectors, however, found no significant signs of rodents inside Hackman’s residence but did discover evidence of rodent activity in external structures, as reported by State Veterinarian Erin Phipps.
Hackman and Arakawa, who were prominent figures in Santa Fe’s arts and culture community since the 1980s, had become less visible in the city as Hackman’s health deteriorated. The couple preferred a private lifestyle prior to their passing, as noted by Sheriff Mendoza.
A caretaker at their gated community made the grim discovery of the couple’s bodies. Sheriff’s deputies located Hackman in the kitchen, while Arakawa and one of their dogs were found in a bathroom. Both appeared to have collapsed suddenly, with no signs of blunt force trauma. Arakawa had recently picked up one of her dogs from a veterinarian on February 9, which could explain why the dog was found deceased in a crate in their home on February 26. Phipps suggested that the dog may have died from starvation.
Gene Hackman, a former Marine recognized for his distinctive raspy voice, had a remarkable career, appearing in over 80 films, television shows, and stage productions since the early 1960s. He received his first Oscar nomination for his role as Clyde Barrow’s brother in the 1967 classic “Bonnie and Clyde,” won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1972 for his iconic performance as detective Popeye Doyle in “The French Connection,” and secured another Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for his role in “Unforgiven.”
