Gene Hackman Cause Of Death Found, Sadly Betsy Passed First

Today in the news they announced the final autopsy results for both Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. Betsy died about a week before Gene of the Hantavirus, and then Gene passed away from advanced Alzheimers followed by a heart attack. Gene was 95 and Betsy was 65.

Although the news of their passing is very sad, it’s a little bit sweet that they got to pass so close together. They are together again in eternity. After a 35-year marriage- equal to 100 years by Hollywood standards, they weren’t separated long in death.

In the Beginning

Gene Hackman met Betsy Arakawa in the mid-80s as she worked in a gym part-time. She is a Hawaiian native and a

classical pianist living in LA at the time. And he was an actor. It seems like an odd pairing, but it was a love story that lasted over 35 years. This was Gene’s second marriage, and he is firm that he didn’t leave his first wife for Betsy.

He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.”

Gene and Betsy lived in a stunning Mexican-style hacienda that featured in Architectural Digest in 1990, with the actor said to have been involved with “every aspect of the house.”

They learned lessons from his first marriage and were intensely private with their relationship. And in 1990 they moved to Santa Fe New Mexico and lived in a stunning 3.8 million dollar home. The couple were discovered by maintenance workers and had been deceased for at least a week before their discovery.

Long Marriage, Long Career

I have to applaud them for their long marriage and for sticking together even through difficult health issues. Gene had many heart surgeries according to the autopsy, and had Alzheimers. Betsy was his caregiver, and it is unclear how she contracted the Hantavirus. But despite it being a little-known illness in the US, globally 150,000 – 200,000 people contract it annually.

Gene Hackman was a prolific actor, starring in more than 51 movies, including Crimson Tide, The Bird Cage, Get Shorty, Bonnie And Clyde, and the Superman movies. He was the voice of General Mandible in Antz. He is remembered for his versatility and range in his roles.