Movies

Gene Hackman and Wife’s Mysterious Deaths Spark Diet and Health Speculation

BBG News

In the years leading up to our recent passing, I was diligently following a strict diet, as reported by my beloved wife, Betsy Arakawa.

On a Wednesday afternoon, the retired actor, who won an Oscar at 95, and his wife, aged 64, were found deceased at their $3.3 million property in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

For quite some time, the pair living together were discovered in different rooms within their house, and their bodies had begun to take on some characteristics of mummification, as stated by the investigating authorities.

On Thursday, Doug Lanham, who was once Gene’s business partner and a good friend, shared his insights with TMZ regarding the deceased couple. According to him, Betsy had put the famous Hollywood figure on a disciplined, nutritious meal plan.

Lanham said that Betsy closely monitored Gene’s eating habits.

Even though Gene had joint ownership of a well-known Santa Fe restaurant, it is said that he occasionally indulged in an unplanned meal during his golf outings with Lanham.

For a number of years, Lanham and Gene jointly operated Jinja Bar & Bistro. However, in 2018, the actor decided to step away from the restaurant business and relinquished his ownership shares.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but share that even after hanging up his acting boots, the legendary Gene, famous for iconic films like The French Connection (1971) and Unforgiven (1992), continued to be a regular at his favorite haunt.

Since Betsy insisted on it, the celebrity instead chose dishes such as ‘halibut or rice-paper wrapped salmon,’ as reported by Lanham.

Lanham referred to his late friend as someone who loved telling jokes, and shared that this friend was known for frequently picking up the tabs of customers at Jinja Bar & Bistro whenever he stopped by.

Lanham also said Gene happily shared stories from his days in Hollywood with interested friends.

Gene frequented many local Santa Fe hotspots, including his favorite restaurant Harry’s Roadhouse.

At the establishment, Hackman seamlessly fit in as a humble customer who preferred being treated just like any other patron, and the employees regarded him as one of their own, according to DailyMail.com’s report on Thursday.

Frequenting the restaurant so much, he eventually appeared as a guest star on the Food Network program titled Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. This happened during a filming of an episode at the restaurant in the year 2008.

For more than three decades, I’ve been acquainted with both Gene and his spouse. At our establishment, Harry’s Roadhouse, Gene was a cherished and adored regular, as shared by Kathleen O’Brien, the owner, in an interview with DailyMail.com at the age of 61.

‘She was neither arrogant nor presumptuous; instead, she was always courteous, kind-hearted, and extremely generous. She was swift in offering a warm smile and an amusing quip. She respected their need for privacy by giving them plenty of space,’ she commented further.

Harry Shapiro, the previous proprietor of Harry’s Roadhouse who sold it to his long-term staff members in 2023, stated that Gene was a frequent patron, visiting for breakfast approximately once a week.

Shapiro, at 78 years old, shared with DailyMail.com that Gene was truly cherished by him following the news of Gene’s unexpected passing.

He usually entered accompanied by his spouse, generally preferring solitude. It was fortunate for us that he came across as a private individual, and the majority of people showed great respect for this trait. I, too, held him in high regard.

He expressed joy at merely being present and having the role of a regular customer, rather than a celebrity. I found it an honor to interact with him, he continued. He was truly an exceptional individual.

On Wednesday, February 26, the bodies of Gene and Betsy, who tied the knot in 1991, were found at their Santa Fe residence. The grim discovery was made by an anonymous individual, who promptly dialed 911 in a state of distress.

In a 911 call audio acquired by TMZ, a man is overheard informing the dispatcher that he discovered two stationary bodies within the actor’s residence, and he urgently requested assistance.

As a diligent follower, I’d like to share an incident reported on Thursday. A caller, whose name was withheld, expressed intense emotions during our conversation, frequently uttering ‘Darn’ while seemingly holding back tears.

It was confusing, as the person thought to be one of the two maintenance workers who discovered the bodies, wasn’t certain whether they had found one body or two.

A dispatcher is overheard querying a caller about information regarding the individuals involved, who are referred to as patients. However, the caller didn’t have details concerning the age or gender of either Hackman or Arakawa.

He could be heard saying there was no movement coming from inside the house.

The caller was standing outside looking through a window while making the 911 call.

Investigators fear Hackman and Arakawa may have lain dead in the house for up to two weeks.

They were discovered in a state of decay and somewhat mummified. It’s thought that the arid and chilly weather conditions of the New Mexico desert aided in preserving their skin and internal structures.

The identification of the couple’s bodies seemed to require several hours, and it wasn’t until past midnight on Friday that the news of their passing was made public.

Hackman was found dead in a mud room just off the couple’s kitchen.

I found my sunglasses and cane lying beside me, fueling rumors that my demise might be due to a fall. (As a dedicated follower, this scene suggests such a possibility.)

In the bathroom shared by the couple, Arakawa was sadly discovered lifeless on the floor. Nearby, an open container of prescribed medication lay spilled out partially on a surrounding counter.

Neither showed any sign of wounds. It remains unclear how they died and who died first.

The results of an autopsy could take four to six weeks to be published, local officials have said.

Amongst the trio of their family pets, it was their German Shepherd who was discovered deceased, hidden away in a closet adjacent to the bathroom, where Mr. Arakawa was later found.

Their two other dogs survived.

Initially, I thought those deaths might have been something sinister, but now, after further investigation by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, I’m no longer convinced that anything untoward happened.

On Thursday, Elizabeth, Hackman’s daughter, was among those who suggested that her father and stepmother might have passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning earlier in the day.

Subsequently, it was determined that a firefighter was dispatched to the residence following the discovery of the deceased, and no evidence of a gas leak was uncovered upon inspection.

Hackman, renowned for his extensive work, was among the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, maintaining a long-lasting presence in the glamorous world of cinema.

In 1972, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a tough police officer in the legendary suspense film The French Connection.

Hackman went on to win a best supporting actor Oscar in 1993 for Western classic Unforgiven.

He has appeared in numerous iconic films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The Poseidon Adventure, Superman, Mississippi Burning, Postcards from the Edge, The Firm, Get Shorty, The Birdcage, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

After his retirement from acting following the release of “Welcome to Mooseport” in 2004, Hackman settled into a tranquil lifestyle in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which he had called home since the 1980s.

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2025-02-28 05:49

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