Gene Hackman Dies After Wife's Hantavirus Death

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, 95, passed away on February 18, 2025, from heart disease exacerbated by advanced Alzheimer's disease, a condition that likely left him unaware of his wife's death one week earlier. Betsy Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 11, a severe respiratory illness resulting from exposure to rodent droppings. The New Mexico Medical Investigator's Office confirmed both deaths were due to natural causes and that Hackman had not contracted hantavirus. Dr. Heather Jarrell, the state medical examiner, noted that Hackman's health had significantly deteriorated due to severe heart disease and Alzheimer's. The couple were found dead in their Santa Fe home, with no signs of foul play, and it is believed Hackman lived for several days after Arakawa's passing without realizing it. Investigators confirmed the deaths were not linked to any infectious disease transmission between the couple.