Gene Hackman’s pal admits becoming elderly ‘bothered him

Gene Hackman and his wife were discovered dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home in February.  The cause of the iconic Hollywood actor’s death was first unknown, but it was later found that he died of natural causes.

Hackman lived a long life and was happily married to Betsy Arakawa for more than 30 years.  Now, a friend of the actor has disclosed additional facts about his final years, alleging that his age bothered him.

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were discovered dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home in late February after a guy identifying himself as a carer contacted 911.

According to local authorities, the call came in shortly before 2 p.m.

Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter, Annie, told People Magazine that they were “devastated by the loss.”

“With profound regret, we announce the loss of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy. Millions of people throughout the world adored and appreciated him for his wonderful acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandfather. We shall mourn him dearly and are crushed by his passing,” Elizabeth, Leslie, and Annie Hackman told People Magazine.

The sheriff’s office indicated that Hackman and Arakawa would be forced to undergo carbon monoxide and toxicological tests.

“There was no obvious sign or indication of foul play,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated at the time.

Gene Hackman died at 95.

He said that there was no trace of a fight or that anything was gone from the couple’s house.  Mendoza also indicated that Hackman and Arakawa had been died for a long time.

CNN acquired audio from a 911 call.  According to the affidavit, maintenance workers discovered the couple dead.  The individual who phoned sounded emotional when speaking with the 911 dispatcher.  They claimed that they were unable to enter the house but noticed two unconscious persons through the window.

“No, guy; they’re not moving.  “Just send someone out here really quick,” the carer instructed the operator.

The circumstances surrounding Hackman and his wife’s deaths were first unexplained. Several ideas circulated in newspapers, and the actor’s daughter, Leslie, told the Daily Mail that there was “no indication that there was any problem” with her father before his death.

“Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” Leslie added, noting that her father had not had any significant procedures in the previous few months. “He enjoyed Pilates and yoga and continued to do them many times each week.  So he was healthy.”

Despite this, Leslie and her family acknowledged that his death was not “terribly shocking” given his age. 

She claimed that she hadn’t seen him in a “few months” since she resided in California.  Even though they were close, they hadn’t communicated in a long while.

“We were near.  I hadn’t spoken to them in a few months, but everything was normal and wonderful,” Leslie told the Daily Mail.

“He was in a very poor state of health”

On March 8, Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell verified that Gene Hackman died of natural causes, just a week after his wife Betsy died from a rare infection.  Hackman died of coronary artery disease, with investigators suspecting that his severe Alzheimer’s may have been the reason he was unaware that his wife had died days before.

According to sources, American classical pianist Betsy Arakawa passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare and dangerous respiratory disease brought on by contact with infected rats.  Officials examined Hackman’s pacemaker and concluded that he passed away on February 18.

According to CBS, Dr. Heather Jarrell stated, “He was in a very poor state of health.”  He had serious heart problems, and I believe that’s what killed him in the end.

According to the assumption, Arakawa most certainly passed away one week before Gene on February 11.  Before fluids enter the lungs, hantavirus can produce flu-like symptoms for three to six days.

“At that point, without medical treatment, a person can die very quickly, within 24-48 hours, roughly speaking,” Jarrell stated.  “Finding someone on the ground during a terminal collapse, so to speak, is not unusual, and that might have been the case.”

“That question’s difficult to answer, but I can tell you that he was in an advanced state of Alzheimer’s so it’s quite possible that he was unaware that she was deceased,” Dr. Jarrell said when asked if Hackman was aware that his wife had died.

What led Gene Hackman to pursue acting?

Hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California. His father, Eugene, ran a printing press, and his mother, Lyda, was a server. In search of work, they relocated from place to town before settling in Danville, Illinois.

At 16, Gene had had enough of school.  A terrible motorbike accident prompted him to quit the military and find employment elsewhere, although he had lied about his age to get into the Marines.

When Hackman married Faye Maltese in 1956, he decided to pursue acting with her assistance. Hackman had worked with the radio throughout his time in the Marines.  He enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts after relocating to the West Coast, and Gene was an instant hit.

It made no difference if Dustin Hoffman and other students were considerably younger than him. Gene and Dustin became long-time friends, but they were initially seen as the “least likely to succeed” in the entertainment industry.  As of today, we know this wasn’t the case.

Hackman would eventually become one of the finest performers of all time.  He and his first wife returned to New York City, where he started his career on Broadway.  He made his film debut in Mad Dog Coll in 1961, but it took him a decade to gain his big break as a major part.  He received his first Academy Award nomination for Bonnie & Clyde in 1968, and a second in 1971 for I Never Sang for My Father.

Gene Hackman’s buddy said the actor was “bothered” by ageing.

In 1972, Hackman won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for The French Connection.  In his 40s, he rose to the status of Hollywood superstar, which led to even more major parts and honours.  He won his second Academy Award in 1993 for his role in Clint Eastwood’s film Unforgiven.

Hackman established his place as a cinematic icon in the hearts of millions across the world with his roles in subsequent films such as Hoosiers and The Royal Tenenbaums.  His last film credit was in the 2004 picture Welcome to Mooseport, in which he costarred with Ray Romano.

Hackman has three children with Faye Maltese: Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne.  They separated in 1986, and in 1991 he married classical musician Betsy Arakawa.  They stayed married till their deaths.  Hackman’s daughter Leslie told the Daily Mail that they had a “wonderful marriage.”

Gene Hackman spent his final years living calmly away from the spotlight.  His buddy, Stuart Ashman, has revealed fresh information regarding Hackman’s final years.  Stuart told Fox that Gene was “bothered” about ageing and concentrated heavily on remaining fit.  The famous actor remained active by playing golf and doing yoga.

“He was very fit, you know, and he was 6-foot-2 plus an ex-Marine,” Stuart Ashman explained.  “He performed pilates around three times each week.On days when he didn’t do pilates, he’d pack his bicycle into his SUV and drive 70 miles to Albuquerque, where he’d ride this paved and flat track along the river.  So he didn’t want to go mountain riding, but he did.  So he was in excellent form. 

“He didn’t like being old”

Stephen Marshall, an FBI agent who had met Hackman and his wife through a community outreach program, added that the actor “was concerned about the fact that he was getting older.”

Marshall said that the pair was unable to attend the screening of Hackman’s movie Night Moves due to health concerns, saying, “He didn’t like being old, and seeing himself on film bothered him because he knew he didn’t look like that anymore.”

When she brought it up, Gene reportedly broke out in a cold sweat, but he simply didn’t want to be involved, according to her.  I thus made an effort to honour that,” Marshall said.

He didn’t want to flaunt his identity when we went out.  When we went out for the first time, I recall seeing people observing him as we were strolling along a Santa Fe street.

“Do you grow accustomed to the thought of people saying, Hey, that’s Gene Hackman?” I asked.  “Yeah, but now they add, ‘And he got so old,'” he replied.  So I thought he looked much younger.  He was disturbed by the fact that he had aged, even though I thought he looked fantastic.

Regarding Hackman and Arakawa, Marshall came to the conclusion that “I was seeing them less and less often.”  They were going out less.”

Hackman’s instructor, Mike Putnam, said that the French Connection star was “determined” to learn how to play golf because it was his love.

“I think he always probably expected to do slightly better than he was doing, you know?”  Putnam informed Fox.  “But I was able to guide him through it and create the correct expectations, allowing him to appreciate it without having such high expectations.

“And Betsy, when she started playing, that angered him even more because she was a bit more athletic, and she took to the game faster, and maybe she simply didn’t get in her own way.  Gene’s mind was clearly churning.  But, my, what a joy both of them were,” the golf coach said.

Rest in peace.  Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.  Please share this post on Facebook to honour them.