Gene Hackman time of death confirmed as star’s pacemaker gives crucial detail into investigation
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico this week but it has since been reported that the Oscars winner died one week before being found.
The couple were discovered on Wednesday in separate rooms of their property, which is located in a gated community, with one of the couple’s three pet dogs also found dead near Arakawa.
Police said the condition of the bodies indicated they had been dead for “several days, possibly even up to a couple of weeks”.
The deaths were announced on Thursday, with authorities now investigating the circumstances, but police believe they have determined when the actor died.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said information from Hackman’s pacemaker suggests he died on February 17.
“The last event [of his pacemaker] was recorded on 17 February 2025,” Mr Mendoza said on Friday. “According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption, that was his last day of life.”
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This timeline indicates the couple had been deceased for approximately 10 days before being discovered, leaving authorities to investigate the circumstances since the bodies were found.
An autopsy results have revealed “no apparent signs of foul play” in the deaths of the couple, with Sheriff Mendoza confirming the examination showed “no external trauma” on either body.
Officials firstly ruled out carbon monoxide as a potential cause of death, after Hackman’s daughter first suggested the theory, but have since made a huge U-turn on the possible cause of death.
Both bodies tested negative for this toxic gas, which can cause accidental deaths in homes.
The investigation continues into what caused the deaths of the 95-year-old actor and his wife.
Authorities have not yet released information about any potential natural causes that might have contributed to their deaths.
The couple were found in different rooms of their home, suggesting they may have died separately, with police believing that both parties suddenly fell to their deaths.
Hackman had a distinguished career spanning decades in Hollywood with the former Marine appeared in more than 80 films and won two Oscars during his time on screen.
His extensive filmography established him as one of America’s most respected actors.
Hackman met Betsy Arakawa, a concert pianist, in the mid-1980s.
The couple married in 1991 and had been together for over three decades at the time of their deaths.
They had made their home in the Santa Fe area, living in a gated community.
The pair had maintained a relatively private life away from Hollywood in recent years.