Gene Hackman's final autopsy reveals tragic medical history following his and wife Betsy Arakawa's death
Topics: Celebrity, Gene Hackman, Health, News
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Kevin Winter
Topics: Celebrity, Gene Hackman, Health, News
More details into Gene Hackman's medical history have been revealed as the late actor's final autopsy was released two months after his death.
Hackman died in February 2025 alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa. Initially, there were fears that the couple may have died by carbon monoxide poisoning, having both been found in their New Mexico home, but it went on to be revealed that Hackman and Arakawa died on different days from different causes.
Arakawa is believed to have died on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Superman star Hackman died on February 18 from heart disease. Their bodies were not discovered until February 25.
Alzheimer's is also believed to have contributed to Hackman's death, and further details about his extensive medical history have come to light.
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In the final autopsy obtained by Fox News, it said that Hackman had a 'history of congestive heart failure' in addition to 'severe chronic hypertensive changes, kidneys'.
The actor had a 'bi-ventricular pacemaker' placed in April 2019, while 'neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer's Disease' were also noted.
The documents read: "Autopsy showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement.
"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."
With there being initial suggestions of carbon monoxide poisoning, Hackman was tested for such but his results were 'less than 5% saturation, in keeping with a normal range'.
In regards to Arakwa's cause of death, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is quite a rare condition. It has, however, seen a rise in cases in the US and claimed the lives of three people in a short period of time in a town in California.
Dr Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer, said in a statement issued on April 3: "A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming.
"We don’t have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity. We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes.
"We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings. We’ve been aware of this suspected case for some weeks, but it has taken time to obtain testing."
The first case of Hantavirus in Mono County was reported in 1993.