- Gene Hackman health reports paint different pictures of star’s final weeks
- Some say he was “homebound”, others relatively healthy
- No foul play found in Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s sudden passing
Authorities are still trying to piece together the puzzle surrounding the sudden death of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his pianist wife Betsy Arakawa.
The 95-year-old star of The French Connection was found dead at his Sante Fe home in late February. His 65-year-old wife Arakawa was also found dead at the property alongside one of their family dogs.
Read more: Morgan Freeman leads Gene Hackman Oscars tribute
Local authorities have been trying to figure out what caused these trio of deaths. Social media speculation almost immediately turned to a carbon monoxide leak.
However, this has since been ruled out. No signs of external trauma were found on Hackman or Arakawa’s bodies although it has since been determined that Hackman’s pacemaker stopped working 10-days prior to the discovery of his body.
Read more: Gene Hackman and wife likely died 10 days before bodies found
As the investigation continues, conflicting reports have emerged about the star’s final months and weeks. One paints a picture of an aging Hollywood icon who remained in relatively good health and spirits while another suggests Hackman had cut himself off from friends and family.
Gene Hackman and Besty Arakawa final weeks
Speaking to TMZ, Hackman’s friend Doug Lanham said that Arakawa took great care of the aging Hackman, even ensuring he chose healthier options at restaurants.
“They were one of the tightest couples I’ve seen,” explained Lanham. “They seemed like real life partners, really, really close to each other, and they were both incredibly kind. And they were reserved, but they were real, [and] a lot of fun.”
Family friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan shared similar thoughts, telling People that while his health was declining, Hackman appeared to be well taken care off.
The “last couple of months, [Hackman] was really slipping there,” noted the Lenihans, with Daniel adding “In recent times, [Hackman was] essentially kind of homebound.”
Barbara also noted that Hackman had “quit riding his bike through the neighborhood.”
Despite this, the Lenihan’s son Aaron detailed how Arakawa took great care of the star. “Betsy tried to keep him kind of active and engaged,” he told the outlet. “She was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible,” Aaron said. “She was very protective of him in terms of COVID-19, so she’d always wear a mask when we’d see her out.”
Aaron added that Hackman would ensure his mind was still active by playing puzzles and doing Zoom yoga.
Meanwhile, Barbara also revealed that Arakawa – who was 30 years younger than Hackman – was in great health. “Betsy was in perfect health,“ she told People. “She was so fit.”
“There was no indication that there was any problem”
Meanwhile, Hackman’s daughter Leslie Ann Hackman spoke to the Daily Mail and assured them “there was no indication that there was any problem” regarding her father’s health.
“Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” she added, before confirming that she had not actually spoken to her father much in the months leading up to his death.
This matches up with a picture painted by a housekeeper Keiko who works for Arakawa’s 91-year-old mother who has dementia. The housekeeper noted that Arakawa’s regular calls to her mother stopped In October.
“Betsy hadn’t called her mother in months,” the housekeeper reportedly told the Daily Mail. She usually called every one or two months. Last time she called was in October. We were thinking, what happened?”
As it stands, the investigation is still ongoing.
