Leslie Hackman, daughter of actor Gene Hackman, said that her father and stepmother may have inhaled toxic gas and died at home because he was healthy a few months ago.
After the bodies of 95-year-old actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, were discovered at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, his daughter told Dailymail that the family was still waiting for the police to confirm the cause of death. Leslie and her sister, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, could only speculate that their father and stepmother, along with one of their three dogs, may have died from inhaling toxic fumes from a carbon monoxide leak. The other two dogs are still alive.
Leslie Hackman with his father, actor Gene Hackman. Photo: Ron Gallela
Leslie, 58, said the family was still trying to understand what happened as there was “no indication that there was anything wrong” with her father before he died. “Despite his age, he was in very good shape,” she revealed, adding that her father had not had any major surgery in the past few months. “He loved Pilates, yoga and he still did it a couple of times a week. So he was in good health.”
However, Leslie said she was “not too shocked” because her father was 95. Living in California, she had not seen or heard from her reclusive father for several months. “We were very close. I haven’t talked to them in a few months, but everything was normal and good,” she shared.
On February 27, Leslie and her sister were seen eating together at a Denny’s restaurant in Burbank, California. According to Dailymail , the photo was taken nearly a day after learning of the death of her father and stepmother. Leslie said she would take care of some personal matters before heading to her father’s house in New Mexico.
Leslie (right) and her sister went out to eat in California on Thursday. Photo: Dailymail
Superman actor Gene Hackman was married to banker Faye Maltese from 1956 to 1986. They had three children together: Christopher Allen, now 65, Elizabeth Jean, 62, and Leslie Anne. In 1991, Gene married pianist Betsy, and they remained together until her death. The couple had no children together.
Leslie said her father and stepmother had a wonderful marriage. She also credited her stepmother for taking such good care of her father. “I was very sad when she left,” Leslie said.
Mr. Gene and Mrs. Betsy have been married since 1991 and live in a $3.8 million mansion in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Photo: Alpha
According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Gene Hackman and his wife had been dead for at least a day before they were discovered, as their bodies showed signs of decomposition. Gene was found in a shoe closet next to the kitchen, and his wife was in a bathroom closet. Their dog was found dead next to Betsy.
Police have ruled out the possibility of the couple inhaling toxic gas as there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak”. The cause of death for Gene and his wife is still under investigation. Police said the deaths of the couple were “of such suspicious nature that a thorough search and investigation is warranted”. “They could be victims of a double homicide, suicide, accident or death by natural causes,” Sheriff Adan Mendoza told TMZ.
Gene Hackman, born in 1930, is one of the most successful Hollywood actors of all time. He has starred in over 100 films, won two Oscars, three Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, and was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Gene retired from acting in 2004.
