“Image Credit: Getty Images Gene Hackman was well known in the acting world and left a lasting mark on the industry. He has passed away alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog. The late actor was recognized for his outstanding work in numerous projects. In a 1988 interview with Film Comment , he shared”, — write: hollywoodlife.com
Image Credit: Getty Images Gene Hackman was well known in the acting world and left a lasting mark on the industry. He has passed away alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog. The late actor was recognized for his outstanding work in numerous projects.
In a 1988 interview with Film Comment, he shared, “Once I met the acting teacher I got the most from, George Morrison, and I started working twice a week with him on scene study, I got over a certain kind of terror. I started realizing that what I was saying to the other actor was very important, not only to them but to me as well. I don’t mean that I personally felt important. But at that moment of interaction there was a very concentrated sense of energy, and of connection, that felt great. I didn’t know if it was acting…I didn’t know what it was but it was thrilling. And I didn’t want to touch it, to examine it too closely—just to do it.”
As many mourn the loss of the legendary actor, learn how his time in the spotlight contributed to his net worth.
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Gene Hackman’s Net Worth Gene had a net worth of $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Gene Hackman’s Most Famous Movies & TV Shows The late actor was known for his roles in films such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, Superman: The Movie, and more.
Who Was Gene Hackman’s Wife? Gene was married to Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist. The two wed in 1991.
When Did Gene Hackman Retire? He retired from acting in 2004. In a 2009 interview with Empire, he shared, “The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York.” Gene added, “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
How Did Gene Hackman Die? Over a week after their deaths, the causes of death for Hackman and Arakawa were revealed, according to E! News. The outlet reported that surveillance footage of Arakawa is believed to have died on February 11, 2025, and her cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a severe respiratory illness transmitted through rodent urine, droppings and saliva.
Hackman’s pacemaker last showed activity on February 18, according to the medical investigator, suggesting he “probably died around February 18.” The investigator also noted that Hackman was in “a very poor state of health” at the time of his death and believes his heart disease likely contributed to his passing. His cause of death was determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)—or hardening of the arteries—with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor.