Gene Hackman's daughter speaks out, reveals actor's condition before death

Al Bawaba

28-02-2025

ALBAWABA - Gene Hackman's youngest daughter spoke up about her father's condition in the months leading up to his death.
In a "couple of months" prior to their deaths, Leslie Anne Hackman, 58, disclosed on Thursday that she "hadn't talked" to the Oscar winner and her stepmother, Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa. However, she claimed that the "Unforgiven" star was "in very good physical condition" until the very end.
On Wednesday, Hackman, Arakawa, and one of their three dogs were discovered dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home after a maintenance worker became alarmed after failing to contact the couple.
Hackman was 95. He married Arakawa, his second wife, in 1991. The classical pianist was 65.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa during PCC Celebrity Art Show on September 11, 1991. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
According to Leslie, she and her family are still adjusting to the news and are waiting for information regarding Hackman and Arakawa's causes of death.
According to Leslie and her older sister, 63-year-old Elizabeth Jean Hackman, their father and stepmother may have perished due to a carbon monoxide leak.
Leslie, who claimed to have a "close" relationship with her father, added that prior to his death, "there was no indication that there was any problem" with his health.
She told the outlet, "He was in very good physical condition despite his age," and that the "French Connection" star hadn't had any significant surgery recently.
"He enjoyed doing yoga and Pilates, and he was still doing that a few times a week," Leslie said. She added, "So he was in good health," adding that Hackman's passing was "not terribly shocking because he was 95."
Living hundreds of miles away from New Mexico in California, Leslie, the youngest of Hackman's three children, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Faye Maltese, claimed that she hadn't seen the actor or Arakawa in a "few months."
Before acknowledging that she hadn't spoken to them in a few months, Leslie said, "We were close, but everything was normal and good."
"They had a wonderful marriage," Leslie remarked of her father's connection with Arakawa. I also give his wife Betsy credit for keeping him alive.
She went on to say, "[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health." "For that, I am grateful, and I am deeply saddened by her passing."
After talking to Santa Fe police, Leslie intends to travel to New Mexico.
(FILES) US actor Gene Hackman (C) is accompanied by fellow actors Robin Williams (L) and Michael Caine(Photo by HECTOR MATA / AFP)
She said, "We have to wait and see what information the police have." "We didn't anticipate having to go outside and inspect the house and everything."
"We have some work ahead of us," the daughter of the "Birdcage" star continued. However, we will be traveling to New Mexico.
In a statement to The Post earlier Thursday, Leslie, Elizabeth, and Hackman's granddaughter Annie confirmed the deaths of both Hackman and Arakawa.
They said, "We regret to inform you of the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy."
The statement added, "To us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa, but to millions of people around the world, he was loved and admired for his brilliant acting career." "We are devastated by the loss and will miss him terribly."
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office verified that there "were no apparent signs of foul play" at the residence where Hackman and Arakawa were discovered in a press release on Thursday.
The deaths were, however, "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to a police affidavit.
The couple's multimillion-dollar home's door was "unsecured and opened," according to the affidavit, and when police came, there was no evidence of theft or forced entry.
According to the affidavit, the room where Arakawa and the dead dog were discovered had an open orange prescription medicine bottle and pills all over it.
According to the sheriff's press release, both Arakawa and Hackman underwent autopsies, and both were asked to undergo toxicological and carbon monoxide testing.
According to the announcement, neither of the deceased showed any symptoms of external injuries. We continue the inquiry and await the official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports.