Betsy Arakawa, the wife of legendary actor Gene Hackman was reported to have heavy and congested lungs at the time of her death, according to results from her final autopsy obtained by Page Six on Tuesday (April 29).

Arakawa, 65, was confirmed to have suffered from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rodent-borne disease, which appeared to be quite advanced at the time of her death in February. The autopsy results showed that she had fluid accumulation in her chest and mild hardening of the blood vessels.

Awakawa was reported to have tested negative for COVID-19, influenza, alcohol and intoxicating drugs, while her body showed zero signs of trauma and her carbon monoxide levels were within average range, according to the autopsy. Hackman's final autopsy confirmed that he tested negative for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hackman, 95, reportedly hadn't eaten for an extended period of time prior to his death in February, having trace amounts of acetone in his system at 5.3 mg/dl, which can be a “product of diabetic- and fasting-induced ketoacidosis as well as a metabolite following isopropanol ingestion," according to toxicology tests conducted before his final autopsy report. The actor was also reported to have a "history of congestive heart failure" and "severe chronic hypertensive changes" to his kidneys, while the medical investigator's also noted "neurodegenerative features consistent with Alzheimer's disease."

Hackman is suspected to have died on February 18, six days after Arakawa, his wife and caretaker, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 12. Officials suspect that Hackman was unaware that Arakawa, 65, had died during his final days.

Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, and his wife were married for 34 years. Police reportedly found the couple at around 1:45 p.m. local time on February 26. Hackman's legendary acting career spanned more than 60 years, providing an everyman believability to numerous iconic roles, including playing Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992), which won him the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

The California native was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for roles in Bonnie & Clyde (1968) and I Never Sang for My Father (1971), as well as Best Actor for Mississippi Burning (1989). Hackman is also remembered for playing arch villain Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980), as well as Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers (1986) and Royal Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) among numerous other iconic roles.

Podcasts