Gene Hackman “was in very poor health” before his death, which was caused by heart problems and advanced Alzheimer’s disease, officials revealed on Friday.
New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell shared the details of Hackman’s health in his final days at a press conference in Santa Fe alongside Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
According to Jarrell, the Oscar-winning actor died roughly a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s.
“It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman died on February 18,” Jerrell said, based on evidence of a “cardiac event” recorded by his pacemaker.
The medical examiner added that Hackman had a history of heart attacks and had undergone surgery to address his heart condition.
The “French Connection” star “had not eaten recently” before passing away as there was “no food in his stomach,” Jerrell said at the press conference, though she shared that the actor’s body showed no “evidence of dehydration.”
Hackman was 95.
Officials said Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus, a flu-like illness spread mainly by rodent feces and is not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.
