Elizabeth Jean Hackman spoke out about her father and his wife’s death
Gene Hackman’s daughter has said she believes that her father and his wife Betsy Arakawa both died due to a carbon monoxide leak.
The actor’s death has shocked the entertainment world after the two-time Oscar winning actor was found dead alongside his wife, who is herself a highly respected classical pianist.
Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth Jean Hackman spoke to TMZ where she said that she believed that a leak had been cause of the pair’s mysterious death.
The news was broken by local newspaper the Santa Fe New Mexican, who stated that local police have said that no foul play is suspected in the pair’s death.
An official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, with the Santa Fe county Sheriff releasing the following statement: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.
“This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”
Elizabeth Jean Hackman stressed that family are not sure yet of the fact that the death was caused due to a carbon monoxide leak.
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were married in 1991, and were found alongside their dog, who was also found dead.
The pair had been living together in their New Mexico home since Hackman retired from acting in 2004.
In one of the last interviews he gave prior to his death, with Empire Magazine, he stated the reason why he had retired from acting.
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He said: “The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York.
“The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
After retirement Hackman and Arakawa were reclusive, living out a fairly normal retired life per reports.
Tributes poured in for both, with Antonio Banderas posting on X: “Very sad day for the cinema’s family.
“Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers. RIP.”
Viola Davis posted a tribute to Instagram, saying: “Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir”.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed the Oscar winning actor in The Conversation, said in a tribute: “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
