We finally got the answer to the shocking and mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. After they were both found dead, along with one of their dogs, in their Santa Fe home late last month, there were so many mysteries. No one knew how or even when they died.
Most of the questions were answered when Betsy’s death was explained. It turned out she died of hantavirus, a rare, flu-like disease typically spread by rodents. Importantly her date of death is estimated to have been February 11. That’s a week before her husband. The award-winning actor passed away, as had been assumed, from cardiac issues. Considering he had a history of heart problems, including a pacemaker — which is how they know when he died — it made perfect sense.
However, the timeline changed everything. Forensic pathologists theorized Betsy must have died in the panic to get the 95-year-old his medicine. But if she died a week before, why didn’t he get help?
This is how we learned Gene Hackman had been in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Authorities believe he was confused — and that’s the reason he didn’t call 911 after discovering Betsy’s body. He may even have been unable to care for himself for that week, including taking his heart pills. Devastating.
Now we have a better understanding of just how much Gene’s wife had become his caretaker.
Over the weekend, Tom Allin, a longtime friend of the Behind Enemy Lines star, spoke to the New York Times. He told the outlet Gene “seemed happy” with Betsy, who would “run things” around the house and beyond. He claimed Betsy had done a lot to take care of Gene for years:
“She was very protective of him.”
The pair married all the way back in 1991 when the Superman star was in his early 60s and Betsy in her early 30s. As we now know, Gene developed Alzheimer’s in the later years of his life, presumably after his retirement from movies in 2004. The disease only continued to advance… So he surely needed a lot of care. And his bride was there for him every step of the way.
The friend said Betsy was “something of a gatekeeper” for him as well, protecting him from the outside world. He explained Betsy was the one who would often arrange social outings for Gene, including golf games and hangouts with friends like Tom.
Crucially, Allin told the outlet the film legend would have died “long ago” had it not been for Betsy:
“She just really looked after him.”
Tom recalled one memory in particular at the Heartbreakers star’s 90th birthday in 2020 where he saw Betsy looking out for Gene so subtly — by adding seltzer water to his wine… cutting the alcohol contents a bit.
It really sounds like he needed her. And he did, in fact, die without her. Just days after her passing. Such a sad situation. But may we all have someone so devoted to us in our latest and most difficult years…
[Images via Oscars/YouTube, WENN]
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