Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa deaths

Acclaimed actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe, Mexico home on February 26, 2025. Authorities revealed that Betsy Arakawa, 65, died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne disease, likely on February 11. Gene Hackman, 95, who suffered from advanced Alzheimer s disease, died approximately a week later on February 18, from cardiovascular disease. It is believed that due to his condition, Gene Hackman was unaware of his wife's death and lived alongside her body for a week. The Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed both deaths were from natural causes, ruling out trauma or carbon monoxide poisoning. The investigation is ongoing, with officials noting signs of rodent entry on the property. The United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the rarity and high mortality rate of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.