The famous actor has maintained a cautious approach to his personal affairs throughout his career, especially when it comes to his children. The demands of fame inevitably affected their relationship.

After the recent deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, questions have arisen about his estate. Although the couple had no children together, he was the father of two daughters and a son from a previous marriage.

The circumstances surrounding the couple’s death have compounded the tragedy. On February 26, 2025, Gene, Arakawa, and one of their dogs were found lifeless in their Santa Fe Summit home. This scene shocked the 911 caller.

Officials later confirmed the cause of their deaths. The chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell, reported that Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease spread mainly by rodents. An autopsy revealed that death was natural, according to preliminary data, around February 11.

According to Dr. Michael Baden, in the weeks before their deaths, Arakawa appeared to be mainly caring for her husband. He noted: “It looks like she really took good care of him.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Jarrell, who performed an autopsy on the veteran actor’s body, discovered that he had “severe heart disease, including numerous heart surgeries, signs of previous heart attacks, and severe kidney changes due to chronic high blood pressure.”