Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman passed away from natural causes, likely about a week after his wife, according to the chief medical investigator in New Mexico. The announcement on Friday put an end to speculation surrounding the deaths of the Hollywood legend and his wife.
Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, revealed Hackman, 95, died from “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.”
His wife, Betsy Hackman, 65, succumbed to “hantavirus pulmonary syndrome,” a rare but serious disease contracted through exposure to rodent droppings. Jarrell confirmed the “manner of death is natural” for both.
No Foul Play Suspected in Hackmans’ Deaths
Authorities found no signs of trauma or carbon monoxide poisoning, which had been initially considered.
Hantavirus causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea, and can escalate to lung and heart failure. “This occurs after a one- to eight-week exposure to excrement from a particular mouse species that carries Hantavirus,” Jarrell explained.
Investigators analyzed data from Hackman’s pacemaker, which recorded its last activity over a week before his body was discovered at their Santa Fe home. The couple was found after maintenance workers were unable to access their property.
“Based on this information, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman probably died around February 18,” Jarrell stated. “Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Miss Hackman passed away first, with February 11 being the last time that she was going to be alive.”
Hackman, widely regarded for his commanding on-screen presence, left an enduring legacy in Hollywood. His passing marks the end of an era for film lovers worldwide.
