News Gene Hackman (1930-2025)
- Thread starter Aragorn
- Start date
That was my first thought but, this guy's theory seems like it might fit the physical evidence known to date better:
Forensic expert’s theory surrounding the ‘unusual’ circumstances of Gene Hackman, wife’s deaths
Baden shared his theory that Arakawa’s death may have occurred after Hackman’s pacemaker stopped while she was trying to help her husband... that in an agitated state, Arakawa could have rushed to the bathroom to get Hackman’s blood pressure medication before falling to the floor while scattering the pills and taking the space heater down with her.
At this point that seems fairly likely.
You covered the majority of what I own, but I'll add here the few you didn't.
The Royal Tenenbaums. Regardless of any director/actor friction, Gene is great as always and the movie is fun.
Heartbreakers. Gene seems to be having an absolute ball in this comedic role. (I say seems, because you can't tell the difference between passion and money jobs with him.)
The Birdcage. Another comedy but Gene is mostly the straight man here. Pun intended.
You mentioned not having seen Scarecrow, so I'll just say I've always been iffy on it. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.
March or Die. I don't remember it well, but I do recall being vaguely disappointed.
Bite the Bullet. Pretty good. More enjoyable than I expected for a movie about a horse race across the desert in the early 1900s.
That would all make sense, they even explain the dog as well.
The article said there was no evidence of physical trauma. If Arakawa had fell to the floor, wouldn't there be bruises and/or cuts?
Last edited:
Probably not if she (for example) clonked the back of her head - it wouldn't immediately apparent.
That sounds like me with THE HUNTING PARTY. What I do remember was that villainous Gene outlasted the antihero......
My ex-best friend told me it was a masterpiece with MIDNIGHT COWBOY vibes. Strangely enough, he trashed THE DEPARTED for being too faithful to its title.
For one of my occasional larks, I made up a BATTLE ROYALE 100-player version five years ago with Hollywood male actors, 80 percent of them extra-tough. Everyone required a nickname, and I chose ''The Everyman'' for Hackman. My brother always picks the order of elimination, then I pick the singular or plural eliminator(s) and method of croaking. Strictly for the record, Hackman and Ernest Borgnine were the only traitors to their groups. Roy Scheider was next-to-last in the 100, so I had him taking out Gene when Gene suggested to Roy they ambush the others. Both made it over the halfway hump along with Borgnine.
Nine days after death it have been difficult, at least at the scene, to determine if any marks on the body were from physical trauma prior to death or due to Livor mortis after passing.
Gene Hackman's gives his reason for joining the Marine Corps, during a 1988 appearance on the late show with David Letterman. Link to YouTube or X
Gene Hackman, wife’s cause of death revealed as sheriff reveals possible timeline
Gene Hackman lived with his dead wife’s body for a full week before succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.
Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.
Hackman, who had late stage Alzheimer’s likely died roughly a week after his wife from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and from Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.
Damn. That sucks so much.
Gene Hackman lived with his dead wife’s body for a full week before succumbing to complications from heart problems and Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed Friday.
Betsy Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like disease linked to rodents, the Santa Fe officials said.
Hackman, who had late stage Alzheimer’s likely died roughly a week after his wife from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and from Alzheimer’s, Jarrell said.
Damn. That sucks so much.
Fuuuuck. That's depressing as hell.
That's horrible. My mum suffered with dementia and my dad suffered from diabetes, I still remember one day my dad had a hypo and just spent hours unconscious and my mum just sat next to him. 
Thankfully my sister went round and found them and called an ambulance. It's such a shame no one seemed to be checking in on them.
Thankfully my sister went round and found them and called an ambulance. It's such a shame no one seemed to be checking in on them.
Without acknowledging the tragic nature of his dying, during his appearance on Colbert, last night Nathan Lane paid a quite tribute to Gene Hackman, not just for his performance in The Birdcage, but as an acting giant in general:
Gene Hackman's dog's heartbreaking cause of death revealed
Most of the dog's stomach was empty aside for small quantities of hair and bile, the report states.
Zinna the dog was recuperating from a veterinary procedure, hence the crate she was locked in (to keep her from running around and opening a wound during play, presumably)
Gary Oldman also paid tribute to Hackman during his recent interview with Colbert:
