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Gene Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease identified as a significant contributing condition. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died several days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico officials announced on March 7, 2025.
Gene Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, while Alzheimer’s disease was a significant contributing condition, New Mexico officials announced on March 7, 2025. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, died several days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe rodent-borne illness.
Hackman, Arakawa and one of their dogs were found at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025, after a welfare check. The findings establish two separate causes of death. They do not show that hantavirus caused or contributed to Hackman’s death.
What caused Gene Hackman’s death?
The official cause was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In practical terms, the forensic conclusion points to the effects of long-standing high blood pressure and atherosclerotic disease affecting the cardiovascular system.
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Alzheimer’s disease was listed as a significant contributing factor, not as Hackman’s primary cause of death. Later autopsy reporting described him as being in an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease and reported that he tested negative for hantavirus.
That distinction matters. It would be inaccurate to say that Alzheimer’s disease alone killed Hackman, just as it would be inaccurate to connect his death to the hantavirus infection diagnosed in Arakawa.
How did Betsy Arakawa die?
Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious respiratory disease caused by infection with a rodent-borne hantavirus. Her autopsy reportedly found heavy, congested lungs and fluid in the chest, findings consistent with severe pulmonary illness.
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Reports based on the released autopsy and toxicology material said Arakawa tested negative for COVID-19 and influenza. The examination found no signs of trauma. Her carbon-monoxide levels were within the normal range, and testing found caffeine but no alcohol or intoxicating drugs.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe available findings do not establish the precise place, date or manner in which Arakawa encountered the virus. They also do not identify a particular rodent, room or exposure event as the source.
What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
Hantaviruses are maintained in rodent populations. New Mexico public-health guidance explains that people can become infected when contaminated urine, saliva, droppings or nesting material is disturbed and particles become airborne. The specific exposure route in Arakawa’s case has not been publicly established.
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In the American Southwest, Sin Nombre virus is associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The illness can progress to pulmonary edema, severe difficulty getting oxygen into the blood, dangerously low blood pressure and, in some cases, cardiac or respiratory arrest.
This context explains why Arakawa’s diagnosis was described as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome rather than simply as a viral infection. It should not be treated as evidence that a particular household condition caused her illness.
When did Hackman and Arakawa die?
Investigators concluded that Arakawa died before Hackman. Public reporting placed her likely death around February 11 and Hackman’s around February 18, but those are estimates rather than dates that should be presented as exact unless a specific forensic record says otherwise.
The safest summary is that Arakawa died several days before Hackman, probably about a week earlier, and that both remained undiscovered until the February 26 welfare check.
Some reporting suggested that Hackman’s advanced Alzheimer’s disease may have affected his awareness of Arakawa’s death or his ability to seek food and assistance. That is an investigator’s or reporter’s inference, not a directly observed medical fact. The confirmed points are the separate causes of death, the approximate sequence and the date on which the couple were found.
What investigators found—and what remains unknown
| Established by the reported findings | Not established by the available account |
|---|---|
| Hackman’s principal cause was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. | The exact time of either death. |
| Alzheimer’s disease significantly contributed to Hackman’s death. | The precise hantavirus exposure route. |
| Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. | A specific rodent, room or household event as the source of infection. |
| The couple were found in Santa Fe on February 26, 2025. | The extent to which Hackman understood that Arakawa had died. |
| Hackman tested negative for hantavirus. | Unsupported claims about negligence, abandonment or the dog’s exact cause of death. |
Santa Fe County released redacted investigation records
On April 15, 2025, Santa Fe County said it had provided redacted records from the Sheriff’s Office investigation after direction from the First Judicial District Court. The county described a conflict between New Mexico public-records requirements and the family’s request for privacy, and referred to a preliminary injunction governing further handling of the material.
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The release supports saying that investigative records were made public in redacted form. It does not justify repeating private medical, household or family details that do not help explain the official causes of death. The public-interest facts remain the medical findings, the approximate sequence and the official response.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Gene Hackman’s screen and writing legacy
The medical findings are separate from Hackman’s long career as an actor and author. The AFI Catalog documents a filmography spanning 92 acting titles, including The French Connection, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as Hoosiers and Mississippi Burning.
For viewers revisiting that work, a Gene Hackman triple-feature DVD featuring The French Connection, Hoosiers and Mississippi Burning has been documented. Availability and pricing can change, so shoppers should check the current listing before buying.
Hackman also wrote several novels after stepping back from acting. Pursuit is identified in biographical material as his final novel. It belongs to a different part of his legacy and offers no explanation for the deaths of Hackman or Arakawa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe respiratory illness caused by infection with a rodent-borne hantavirus. It can cause fluid in the lungs, dangerously low oxygen levels, low blood pressure and respiratory or cardiac arrest. The publicly reported findings do not identify the precise source of Betsy Arakawa’s exposure.
Did Gene Hackman die from hantavirus?
No. Hackman’s reported principal cause was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and he tested negative for hantavirus. Alzheimer’s disease was listed as a significant contributing condition.
Who died first, Gene Hackman or Betsy Arakawa?
Investigators concluded that Arakawa died first. Public reporting estimated her death around February 11 and Hackman’s around February 18, but those dates should be treated as approximate. They were found on February 26, 2025.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Gene Hackman’s official cause of death was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing condition. Betsy Arakawa died several days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The public findings do not establish a specific exposure source or show that hantavirus played any role in Hackman’s death.
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