Gene Hackman's official cause of death confirmed in new autopsy details
Hollywood icon Gene Hackman passed away at 95, with postmortem examinations revealing various health problems contributing to his death.
Found in his Santa Fe residence next to his wife Betsy Arakawa, who was 65 years-old, on February 26, the autopsy results elaborated on the medical complications he faced.
Official reports stated: "Autopsy showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement."
Further details emerged: "Remote myocardial infections were present involving the left ventricular free wall and the septum, which were significantly large. Examination of the brain showed microscopic findings of advanced stage Alzheimer's disease."
Authorities from New Mexico noted evidence suggesting that Gene had endured a period without food before passing, highlighted by minor acetone levels found in his body, reports Wales Online.
The toxicology report disclosed an acetone concentration of 5.3 mg/dl in Gene's system, hinting at either prolonged fasting or starvation.
Records also included information that increased acetone can result from "product of diabetic and fasting-induced ketoacidosis as well as metabolite following isopropanol ingestion".
According to the medical examiner, Gene was dealing with "history of congestive heart failure" and had undergone the fitting of a "bi-ventricular pacemaker" back in 2019.
It had already been confirmed that Betsy succumbed to the effects of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome before her husband, a rare illness transmitted by rodent droppings and urine. Inspectors from the New Mexico Department of Public Health attributed Betsy's demise to the terrible condition of their New Mexico home, where they discovered an infestation of rodents and a house in disarray.
Gene's deep affection for Betsy became apparent when recently discovered handwritten love notes were found inside their home. In one heartfelt note, Gene wrote: "Morning lovely girl, thinking of you and the other little guys. Love G."
These private writings shed light on the personal life they led together within the confines of their home.
In another charming message, Gene humorously penned: "Ho, Ho, I am off to see the Wizard, the Wizz of Achie, Pokie. She stabs me here and stabs me there, she stabs me almost everywhere (almost). But I'll survive because after I am still alive. (But some times just barely). Love G."
Yet another loving missive stated: "I'm going down to that building out past the hot water place where you sit, and do whatever it is that people are supposed to do in such a building – maybe I'll remember once I get down there."
He signed off cheekily with: "Love what's his name."
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Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Louis Walsh's mother is now in a 'happier place', funeral mass hears
Louis Walsh's mother Maureen is in a "happier place" after enduring 12 years of "pain and hardship" battling Alzheimer's Disease, her funeral mass heard. Maureen Walsh passed away on Monday at the age of 94 at St Attracta's Nursing Home in Charlestown, Co Mayo. She had battled with Alzheimer's for 12 years. Huge crowds gathered at the Church of the Holy Family in Kiltimagh to say goodbye to the Mayo native, including her famous son, Louis, who looked grief-stricken as he arrived at the church behind his mother's coffin. Louis' brother Frank and sister Sarah addressed mourners on behalf of their family, to remember their mother. Frank said: "The last 12 years were tough on her, tough, tough, tough, tough for the family, but very tough on her. "And I have to say, it wasn't my happiest days going out to see her. I wasn't as good as some of the other people in the family, particularly Evelyn and Sarah, they were constant visitors. "But I did not like going out to see her in that state. And I don't think she would have liked to have seen it either. It's a merciful release after that 12 years of pain and endurance and hardship, and she would not have liked to end it up the way she did. "So I think Maureen, you're in a happier place now. You're in a happier place." Frank thanked the crowds that came to the house on Thursday night, joking his former X Factor judge brother Louis "must've been charging admittance". Paying tribute to his mother, Frank said: "She was famous for her tea, Barry's Tea. She brought Barry's Tea with her everywhere. "When she went off on the Midwest tours, she brought the sausages, the rashers and the Barry's tea. "And apparently, you could smell the rashers and the sausages on the floor that she was on in the hotel. I've gone with her on some of those trips, and they were great craic. All she wanted to see was her family around her. That was the most important thing. She loved it. And if we showed up, as we did sometimes, without letting her know, she would be shocked. But very, very happy with it, very happy with it." He said she believed deeply in "family". "Maureen lived for her family. She was the heart. She was the rock. We all loved her, respected her and feared her, but she always wanted us to be together. "She was a hard worker. She had great faith and she found joy in simple things. But if you overstepped the line, she'd give you a look, and you know you were going no further or a pinch. She was a great believer in education and self improvement, and she pushed us and pushed us and hopefully she didn't do a bad job. "She probably was easier on her grandchildren than she was on her children. I think that's quite normal," he said. His sister Sarah recalled how Mrs Walsh's spirit was still around on Thursday night when the family were saying prayers. "We know she loved Michael English. She loved Mike Denver, Brendan Shine, Bridie Gallagher and the Wolfe Tones. We used to go on these trips with the local radio station Midwest, and mammy had it on 24/7. "Just a strange thing happened yesterday afternoon, we were saying the prayers, and we could hear music, and someone said, 'Turn off the radio.' "But there was no the radio in the house. Somebody's phone had started playing Midwest radio. We think Maureen was pulling a quick one on us again. "As I said, it was on constantly. It was never turned off, even yesterday she put it back on. She said she used to go to bed with Michael Commins (Mid-west radio host) twice a week. Go figure." Among the mourners included Westlife's members Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, who was with his wife Gillian, and Kian Egan who was with his wife Jodie. Mrs Walsh was brought to the Kiltimagh chapel in a wicker coffin. A photograph of the 94-year-old was placed on the coffin as well as a spray of white flowers. Symbols to the altar included rosary beads, a picture of Padre Pio because of her "strong faith", a Mayo flag, her radio "that was always tuned to Mid-West", her rolling pin, "because Granny was famous for her scones and tarts", as well as a family photo, a pack of cards and Ireland's Own because "she loved a game of 25". Father Michael Quinn told mourners Mrs Walsh had a "great impact" on many people "throughout her life". He said: "We give thanks for the great gift of our life, 94 years of life. It's a great gift of life itself. And we give thanks for the great impact she's had on so many people throughout her life, as well, evidenced again, by so many here gathering at the church, so many who called to our home yesterday evening as well, and many who have contacted by line two to the family, all evidence of the impact, the great impact that Maureen has had on so many lives throughout her own life as well. "We know she'd had difficulty the last years (with her health), and we pray she's now free of all of that and the loving kindness of God, and be reunited again with her husband, Frank, her daughter, Catherine, her parents, Mark and Delia, her son Sean and her son-in-law, Pat, who have all predeceased her." Father Quinn said she was a "treasured neighbour" as well as being a brilliant mother. He said: "Others remember her as a true friend over many years. For more, they recall a great work colleague who brought dedication and enjoyment into their place of work here in town. Maureen was a treasured neighbour. "Her door was always open to drop in to enjoy her hospitality, have a chat and a laugh, she was always there to be the best support she could be. "Perhaps what stands out above all is Maureen as a mother. Maureen came into the world at the beginnings of the 1930s… in what were particularly difficult times. The Great Depression had begun in 1929 and the social and economic situation, both in Ireland and the world, was very challenging, and for the end of Maureen's first decade of life, World War II would begin in 1939 and last until 1945 bringing further hardship to our already very difficult times." But he said "one of the most difficult things" was when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease more than 10 years ago. "And all the more challenging to accept when a person is outgoing and verbatious and sociable, very interested in people, and for these reasons, the past number of years have been very difficult for you." He said she faced the highs and lows of her life "with courage". "She faced them with courage. She found strength above all in her faith," he added. Mrs Walsh was buried afterwards in Kilkinure Cemetery, Kiltimagh.
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Corrie's Betsy to 'dig deeper' to uncover past secrets
Coronation Street star Sydney Martin, who plays Betsy Swain in the ITV soap, has said her character is determined to "dig deeper" to discover secrets from the past. Betsy's mum, DS Lisa Swaine (Vicky Myers) has been struggling after Craig Tinker's (Colson Smith) death. When Betsy catchers her mum looking through old boxes it piques her interest. "Their relationship has often been based around lies, there's a lot of times her mum has lied to protect her but Betsy just wants to be treated like an adult now," Martin said. "If snooping in these boxes means she can find out something that her mum's not going to tell her otherwise, then that's what she's going to do." Betsy's snooping leads her to finding out something about "her other mum Becky who died that leaves her wanting to find out more". "It seems there were certain things she didn't know about her other mum and again that stems a bit of resentment in Betsy towards Lisa because it means she's been keeping stuff from her," the soap star explained. When Lisa tries to fob Betsy off and says the box contains details about her paternity that she doesn't want her to see until she's 18, Betsy isn't convinced. "There's a really nice scene where we see that paternity doesn't matter to Betsy," Martin said. "When you see two women in a relationship there's often a big deal about who's the dad. But their family dynamic isn't about that, her parents are her mums, it was just a sperm donor, that doesn't mean anything to Betsy. "So when Lisa tries to fob her off saying the box contains her paternity results, Betsy knows it's something neither of them really care about so she's going to dig deeper." After uncovering some information about Becky, Betsy and Lauren decide to go to the prison to find out more. "They're going to visit Logan, who they know was involved with the death of both Becky and Mason, so it's a big deal but Lauren naively thinks she can handle it," the actress explained. "The plan is to ask questions about the night Becky died and get more of an insight into what happened but at the end of the day Logan is in prison for a reason, he's not a very nice guy and she's probably going to have to deal with the repercussions." Martin, who has been on Coronation Street for a year, said Betsy has "opened a box that should have stayed closed". "Someone in prison, convicted of attacking their own brother, is not going to help her, especially not for free," she said. "He will want something out of it and she's making deals with the devil."
Irish Independent
02-06-2025
- Irish Independent
‘You were a true lady' – Mother of music manager Louis Walsh dies following long battle with illness
Maureen Walsh, of Church Street, Kiltimagh, Mayo, the mother of former Boyzone manager and music mogul, Louis Walsh, died today. Ms Walsh, a mother-of-nine, had been battling with Alzheimer's Disease for the last decade. "My mum has got Alzheimer's now. She doesn't know me. But she's fine, healthy and happy and doesn't know any better," Mr Walsh told Woman Magazine in 2015. The former X Factor judge said then that the pair are famously close, with his mother flying to London and Miami where her son had homes. She even appeared on the X Factor show in 2007, where she revealed that his real name is Michael Louis Vincent Walsh. Ms Walsh is predeceased by her husband Frank, her daughter Catherine, her parents Martin and Delia, her brother Sean and her son-in-law Pat O'Connor. She is the cherished mother of Evelyn' O'Connor, Louis, Paul, Frank, Eamon, Padraic, Joseph, Noel and Sara Keogh, according to her death notice. Ms Walsh will repose at her home in Church Street, Kiltimagh, on Wednesday evening from 4pm until 8pm. Her removal from her home will take place on Thursday morning to the Church of the Holy Family, Kiltimagh for Funeral Mass at 12pm. This will be followed by a burial afterwards in Kilkinure Cemetery, Kiltimagh. Tributes have been pouring in for Ms Walsh, with one condolence describing her as a 'true lady'. One person recalled how they had 'fond memories of a gracious, kind and generous lady'. "My deepest sympathy to all the Walsh family on the passing of yer Mum. A lovely lady. May she Rest in peace,' another said.
