Gene Hackman, a legendary actor known for his outstanding work in numerous films, has passed away alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog in February 2025. Hackman left a lasting mark on the industry with his remarkable career.
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.
Gene Hackman’s Net Worth
Hackman had a net worth of $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
The details of Hackman’s will were revealed two weeks after he and his wife were found dead in their New Mexico home. He left his estimated $80 million fortune to Arakawa, his successor trustee, according to the Daily Mail on March 13.
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?
Hackman was married to Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist. The two wed in 1991.
Did Gene Hackman Have Kids?
Hackman had three children with his first wife, Faye Maltese: Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, and Leslie Ann Hackman.
When Did Gene Hackman Retire?
Hackman 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.” Hackman 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.
