Actor Hackman died of heart disease after wife’s death from hantavirus

Authorities say film star showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s at time of death

Gene Hackman at the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, in 2003. Reuters

Gene Hackman died of heart disease and showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s a week after his wife died of hantavirus in their home, authorities said on Friday.

Investigators initially ruled out foul play after the bodies were discovered on February 26. Immediate tests showed carbon monoxide poisoning was not involved.

Chief medical investigator Heather Jarrell said it was possible that Hackman was not aware his wife was dead in their home.

“Mr Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr Jarrell said. “He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death.”

Hackman, 95, was found in the home's entryway. His death was tied to heart disease with Alzheimer's disease contributing.

His wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, was found with an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the bathroom counter. Authorities linked her death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by rodent droppings.

It is typically reported in spring and summer, often due to exposures that occur when people are near mouse droppings in homes, sheds or poorly ventilated areas.