OMG, this is, like, so totally tragic, I can’t even deal. So, last week, we reported that Gene Hackman—absolute Hollywood legend, total icon from The French Connection, Hoosiers, and, duh, Superman—had, like, passed away under super mysterious circumstances. And now that we actually know what happened? It’s just heartbreaking.
So, here’s the deal. Hackman, who was, like, 95, was found deceased at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025. And it wasn’t just him—his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, was also found, along with one of their three dogs. Like, can you even? It’s beyond sad. And, okay, while it totally seemed mysterious at first, authorities have made it super clear: there was no foul play. Like, none at all. Just a deeply tragic situation.
So, Hackman had been, like, really reclusive for years. Ever since COVID, he basically just stayed out of the public eye. And on top of that, he was battling advanced Alzheimer’s. His wife, Betsy, was, like, his rock, totally devoted to taking care of him. They had been married since 1991, and she was seriously everything to him.
Now, this is where things get even sadder. Authorities believe Betsy actually died first—like, around February 11. And the cause? Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. I know, right? Like, what even is that? Turns out, it’s this super rare but deadly respiratory disease you can get from rodents. And because Hackman had, like, major Alzheimer’s, he probably didn’t even realize what had happened. So, after she passed, he was just… alone. For days. And, like, my heart actually can’t take it. Authorities think he passed away about a week later from heart disease and complications from his condition.
And, like, the only reason they were even found was because a neighbor got worried and called for a welfare check. Can you imagine? Like, what if no one had checked? It’s just so, so sad. And, yeah, people have had tons of questions—about why no one noticed earlier, what was going on with the rodents, and, like, how this even happened—but the authorities have been super clear: this was not a crime. Just an awful, awful tragedy.
Obviously, Hollywood is, like, devastated. Hackman was one of the greatest actors ever, and literally everyone knows it. Clint Eastwood even said, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.” And Francis Ford Coppola? He literally called him “a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity.” Like, if these legends are saying it, you know it’s true.
And, okay, fun fact—Hackman’s last on-screen appearance wasn’t even in a movie. It was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Like, can you even? Back in 2008, he randomly showed up at this little spot in Santa Fe called Harry’s Roadhouse on Guy Fieri’s show. Total legend move. He just wanted a chill life, and he earned that.
Honestly, this whole thing is just so incredibly sad, and the fact that there was no foul play makes it even harder to process. This wasn’t some crazy crime story—this was just an elderly couple who loved each other, living a quiet life, and then something absolutely awful happened. And Hackman, left all alone, probably not even understanding what was going on? I cannot.
So, yeah, we officially lost one of the greatest actors of all time, and the way it happened is just so, so tragic. If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that life is fragile, and we need to check in on the people we love. Because this? This was just devastating.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Image from The Guardian.
