A recently released autopsy report for Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman, who died in May at age 95, outlines the complex health challenges he faced in his final years.
Conducted by New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator, the document confirms his death resulted from complications of heart disease, including congestive heart failure and chronic hypertensive kidney disease, compounded by advanced Alzheimer’s.
The report notes Hackman’s extensive cardiac history, including multiple surgeries such as coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement, and a bi-ventricular pacemaker implanted in 2019. Trace amounts of acetone detected in his system also pointed to prolonged fasting in the weeks preceding his death, though the autopsy did not specify the cause or context of the fasting.
The findings arrived amid personal tragedy for Hackman’s family. His wife of 35 years, Betsy Arakawa, died just one week before him from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne illness. Investigators discovered rodent infestations in the couple’s Santa Fe residence, initially prompting scrutiny into the timing of their deaths. Authorities later determined both fatalities were unrelated and attributable to natural causes.
Hackman’s advanced Alzheimer’s, the report states, likely left him unaware of his wife’s passing. The actor, known for iconic roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, had retreated from public life after retiring from acting in 2004, with few details about his health disclosed publicly until now.
The autopsy underscores the fragility of Hackman’s later years, marked by progressive chronic conditions. While his storied career spanned five decades, his final chapter reflected the quiet struggles shared by many aging individuals, away from Hollywood’s glare. The report also highlights broader questions about end-of-life care for those with neurodegenerative diseases, a reality faced by millions globally. Hackman’s legacy as a cinematic titan remains untouched, even as the disclosure of his health battles offers a sobering reminder of mortality’s inevitability.
