Gene Hackman cause of death: Pathologist James Gill reveals theories on death of Hollywood icon and wife

A chief medical examiner in the US has revealed two possible causes of death after legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead in mysterious circumstances.

The couple were found dead on February 26 at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hackman, 95, was found in the home’s mudroom while his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, was found dead in the bathroom.

Police found prescription pills scattered on a counter and it appeared both had been dead for a number of days. The couple’s dog was also found dead at the scene.

Connecticut chief medical examiner James Gill is not investigating the case, but told People that he believed the couple may have died from natural causes.

“From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed,” he said.

“He’s got a history of heart disease. He’s got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual. But the unusual part is that why then did she also collapse? Assuming she would’ve found him. Then you start wondering about: There is this thing where the stress of seeing someone die that could have triggered a natural death in her.”

Mr Gill said the other possibility was that Betsy died first. He said Hackman could have found her and on his way to getting help “collapsed from the stress of that, too. He’s older, he’s got known heart disease. But the autopsy would certainly show if she had heart disease or cancer or what have you”.

The pathologist said two natural deaths had been known to occur, saying it was “kind of a broken heart-type thing”.

Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor that can increase your adrenaline and that stimulates your heart to beat faster, and that can put your heart into an irregular rhythm,” he said.

Mr Gill also said there had been instances where, after finding a loved one, “people get very despondent and they do something to take their own life, and that may be with pills or what have you. I think the toxicology workup will be helpful in excluding causes such as an intoxication or injuries.”

Authorities have already ruled out gas or carbon monoxide poisoning, with a statement from Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Gas Company confirming “no significant findings” in its extensive investigation for leaks at the couple’s home.

During the examination, a “minuscule”, non-lethal leak was found in one of the stove burners, and four code enforcement violations were found for installation of lighters for a water heater and fireplaces, but none related to gas leaks or carbon monoxide.

“Those results are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog though the information was relayed to the Office of the Medical Investigator for consideration,” the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office said.

Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for The French Connection in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven two decades later. He also won praise for his role as a coach finding redemption in the sentimental favourite Hoosiers.

He met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist, at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They moved to Santa Fe by the end of the decade. Their Pueblo revival home, sits on a hill in a gated community with views of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

In his first couple of decades in New Mexico, Hackman was often seen around the state capital and served on the board of trustees for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum from 1997-2004.

In recent years, he was far less visible. Aside from appearances at awards shows, he was rarely seen in the Hollywood social circuit and retired from acting about 20 years ago.

Hackman had three children from a previous marriage. He and Arakawa had no children but were known for having German shepherds.

— With Associated Press