Gene Hackman’s Tragic End: Shocking Autopsy Uncovers Long-Hidden Struggles and Dark Secrets

If you’d told me growing up that one day I’d be writing about Gene Hackman’s final days and not his Oscar wins or bad guy smirks, I probably would’ve laughed you off my blog. But here I am, staring at a story where the greatest onscreen villain and a world-class pianist wife were found side by side—caught in the kind of real-life plot twist not even Hollywood could script. Do you ever wonder if the truth behind closed doors is more heartbreaking than anything in the movies? Because this story is an odd cocktail of heartbreak, medical twists, and the strange way fate sometimes forgets to check its own script. Two months after the world said goodbye to Hackman, his autopsy reveals a tapestry of frailty and tragedy that almost reads like a darkly comic Hollywood ending—rat-borne disease, advanced Alzheimer’s, stents, and a haunting disconnect between husband and wife in their final days. Curious? So am I… The full story spins out much deeper than the newspaper headlines. Want to get the whole bittersweet, bizarre, and oddly moving lowdown? LEARN MORE.

Two months on from his death, Gene Hackman’s final autopsy has revealed more heartbreaking details about his medical history.

The actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 26 February. However, investigations later found that the pianist likely died around 12 February, and Hackman around a week later.

It is said the 99-year-old may not have been aware his 65-year-old wife had died due to his progressed Alzheimer’s disease. Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The Lex Luther star’s Alzheimer’s was also noted as a contributing factor in his death as a result of cardiovascular disease.

And the final autopsy has confirmed his official cause of death as well as details around his health with an extensive medical history.

The pair died in February. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

The documents show that Hackman tested negative for the rat-borne disease which killed his wife.

Obtained by Fox News Digital, the documents released by the Office of the Medical Investigator in Nes Mexico show that he had a ‘history of congestive heart failure’ in addition to ‘severe chronic hypertensive changes, kidneys’ and his neurodegenerative disorder.

“Autopsy showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease,” the documents state, “with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement.”

It continued: “Remote myocardial infarctions were present involving the left ventricular free wall and the septum, which were significantly large. Examination of the brain showed microscopic findings of advanced stage Alzheimer’s disease.”

The medical examiner noted that the actor had a ‘bi-ventricular pacemaker’ in April 2019 and added that he had acetone levels at 5.3 mg/dl, with normal levels rising to only 0.3 mg/dl.

Reports suggested that this is ‘also a product of diabetic- and fasting-induced ketoacidosis as well as a metabolite following isopropanol ingestion’.

It is said Hackman likely did not know his wife had died. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

It was concluded that Hackman’s levels stated may have suggested prolonged fasting.

After it was initially suggested that a gas leak was the most likely cause of the couple’s deaths, documents also confirmed that carbon monoxide levels were in the normal range and ruled out poisoning as a cause of death.

An investigation previously released, detailed some of Arakawa’s final internet searches, phone calls, and emails as well as love letters written by Hackman.

It was found that she had been researching information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques as well as ordering oxygen canisters from Amazon.

With it only determined as the cause of death for Arakawa, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can lead to a range of symptoms including flu-like illness and is typically spread through infected urine, droppings, or saliva of certain species of mice and rats.

It was reported by the New Mexico medical investigator’s office that there were signs of a rodent infestation at Hackman and Arakawa’s estate.