NYT: Gene Hackman, Hollywood’s Consummate Everyman, Dies at 95

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 7:57am

Found with wife and dog

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/obituaries/gene-hackman-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0E4.pxbn.jM-HN408-o0Y

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 8:03am

I’m so confused. Hackman, his 64-year-old wife, and their dog were all found dead in their home but… no foul play? That’s extremely bizarre.

[ivy3]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 8:28am

ColorTheHours048 said: "I’m so confused. Hackman, his 64-year-old wife, and their dog were all found dead in their home but… no foul play? That’s extremely bizarre."

possibly means gas leak / carbon monoxide poisoning. 

no foul play means they don't think it's murder.

 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 9:33am

This could also have been a decision to end life together. It’s quite common. One partner may be close to passing away naturally, and the younger/healthy partner can’t bear the thought of living without them, so they simply call the shots and decide the timing themselves. 

[inception]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 9:37am

Saw a brief mention on the crawl of the morning news as I had breakfast and thought I misread it.  Thanks for posting the NYTimes link MezzA101.

Fir me his most affecting performance was in The Conversation. Watched it fir the first time on TV with my Dad when I was about 12 maybe.  Such a mind bender. 

On the other end of the spectrum is the film he made with Liza & Burt Reynolds, 1975's  Lucky Lady.  It's bad but enjoyable.  That obit was right about how he really cranked the films out in the 70's.

They don't make them like they used to.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 12:41pm

Hackman and Wife Were Found Dead in Separate Rooms, Sheriff Says

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/us/gene-hackman-wife-dead-new-mexico.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0E4.VM7q.rIdTKVDeMuNG

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 12:53pm

Nathan Lane: ''Gene Hackman was my favorite actor.''

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/gene-hackman-death-reactions-francis-ford-coppola-1236322137/

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 1:10pm

Gene Hackman’s wife found mummified and bloated by workers who hadn’t seen couple for two weeks: cops

 

https://nypost.com/2025/02/27/entertainment/gene-hackman-and-wifes-death-investigated-as-suspicious-after-door-was-found-open-pills-found?

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 1:11pm

Gene Hackman and the Pugnacious Nature of Surprise

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/movies/gene-hackman-appraisal.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0E4.wOKm.1RqYpYXcUIsC

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 2:01pm

Deaths found to be "suspicious"

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gene-hackman-wife-found-dead-investigation-santa-fe-sheriffs-rcna193960

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 3:16pm

Thoughtfulness and tact from the NYPost, as always. 

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 3:39pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "This could also have been a decision to end life together. It’s quite common. One partner may be close to passing away naturally, and the younger/healthy partner can’t bear the thought of living without them, so they simply call the shots and decide the timing themselves."

I doubt this happened. One of their dogs died as well,so why would they kill the dog too?

 

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 3:45pm

fosterfan2 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "This could also have been a decision to end life together. It’s quite common. One partner may be close to passing away naturally, and the younger/healthy partner can’t bear the thought of living without them, so they simply call the shots and decide the timing themselves."

I doubt this happened. One of their dogs died as well,so why would they kill the dog too?

"

It's also being reported that there were two other dogs that were alive and running around. So why would they kill one dog and not the other two? 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 3:52pm

God, what a tragic end for such a wonderful and beloved talent. Hopefully closure can be found for their family and loved ones. 

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 3:58pm

The dog that died was trapped in its kennel. The other two were free-roaming and had access to a doggie door.

[joevitus]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 7:49pm

I was sadly thinking suicide. But if the two dogs not kennelled survived by going through the doggy doors, then it was likely an accident involing carbon monoxide (though why was there not still a leak when the bodies were discovered?). It's an awful thing, either way, but I hope it was an accident.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 11:42pm

The more news I read, the more hinky this whole thing looks.

As others have said, what a sad end for what was truly one of the great American film actors. Mississippi Burning was a film my parents showed me as a kid that really stuck with me, as well as The Birdcage, The Royal Tenenbaums, Bonnie & Clyde, and of course Superman.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 3/2/25 at 5:32am

Mystery of Gene Hackman’s Death Brings Grief and Bewilderment to Santa Fe

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/us/gene-hackman-death-mystery-santa-fe.html?unlocked_article_code=1.004.cNod.h-OHn3TZqs83&smid=nytcore-android-share

[George in DC]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 5:38pm

I did not think this story could get sadder. I was wrong.

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/gene-hackman-cause-of-death-died-week-after-wife-1236331489/

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 5:39pm

Betsy Arakawa Hackman is believed to have died around February 11 of hantavirus, "a rare disease that can infect humans through contact with rodents."

Gene Hackman died on February 18 of heart disease and Alzheimer's.

I cannot even fathom how harrowing his final days must have been. Devastating.

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/investigation-update-gene-hackman-death-03-07-25/index.html

Updated On: 3/7/25 at 05:39 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 8:20pm

That is just so heartbreaking and tragic. Maybe more so than any of the darker speculation. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 9:21pm

I think suicide wouid have been darker, since it would imply suffering despair. Neverthess, what did happen is absoultely horrfiying and depressing. I don't understand why they didn't care someone working to look after them, especially at their age and considering their individual infirmities. I guess she considered herself capable of looking after him. I am baffled by and don't what to know how she managed somehow to eat rat feces. It's nightmarish. Depite the fame and money difference, they represent threat many older people face, being alone and unable to care of themselves. 

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 10:08pm

joevitus said: " I am baffled by and don't what to know how she managed somehow to eat rat feces. It's nightmarish.

It’s spread by breathing in particles in the air. Like if cleaning up rat dropping.

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/7/25 at 10:52pm

Ah, okay.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 3/8/25 at 6:51pm

A Haunting Coda: The 7 Days Gene Hackman’s Wife Could No Longer Care for Him

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/us/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2U4.oNFP.tno8GBNfcEVl&smid=nytcore-android-share