Gene Hackman's Final Autopsy Reveals New Health Details

by Corinne Heller
April 28, 2025

Ron Davis photo

A final autopsy released by the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico and obtained by Fox News Digital shows that the two-time Oscar winner—who was found dead at age 95 at his Santa Fe home, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, Feb. 26—had a "history of congestive heart failure" in addition to "severe chronic hypertensive changes, kidneys" and Alzheimer's disease.

The document showed Hackman tested negative for hantavirus, unlike his spouse, 65, who was previously found to have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness that is transmitted through rodent urine, droppings and saliva.

"Autopsy showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease," the autopsy stated, per Fox News Digital, "with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement."

In March, authorities shared that Hackman and his wife both died of natural causes—her on Feb. 11 and him seven days later—at their New Mexico home. At the time, the cause of the Superman actor's death was determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor.

The medical investigator also shared that Hackman was in an "advanced state" of Alzheimer's and that was "it's quite possible that he was not aware" that his wife was deceased. The official added that was no food in Hackman's stomach.

The findings from the actor's final toxicology report from the New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator are consistent with a prolonged level of fasting, as they showed trace amounts of acetone, a product of diabetic and fasting-induced ketoacidosis, in his system, Fox News reported.

Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest in a private memorial earlier this month. His three children, son Christopher, 65, and daughters Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, and other family members and friends attended the service.

The document continued, "Remote myocardial infarctions 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."

In March, authorities shared that Hackman and his wife both died of natural causes—her on Feb. 11 and him seven days later—at their New Mexico home. At the time, the cause of the Superman actor's death was determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor.

The medical investigator also shared that Hackman was in an "advanced state" of Alzheimer's and that was "it's quite possible that he was not aware" that his wife was deceased. The official added that was no food in Hackman's stomach.

The findings from the actor's final toxicology report from the New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator are consistent with a prolonged level of fasting, as they showed his system had trace amounts of acetone, a product of diabetic and fasting-induced ketoacidosis, Fox News Digital reported.

Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest in a private memorial earlier this month. His three children, son Christopher, 65, and daughters Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, and other family members and friends attended the service.