Gene Hackman’s daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father’s mysterious death in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.
Gene Hackman, the 95-year-old actor, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were discovered deceased on Wednesday in different rooms of their $3.8 million residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
A neighbor of the couple called emergency services after discovering the bodies.
One of their three dogs was found dead inside the house, while two others were found alive.
Leslie Anne Hackman, one of Gene’s three children, mentioned to DailyMail.com that the family is anticipating information from the authorities about the cause of death, as the circumstances surrounding the couple’s passing remain unclear.
Leslie and her sister, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, can only speculate that their father and stepmother, accompanied by one of their dogs, might have succumbed to inhaling poisonous gases possibly due to a carbon monoxide seepage.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (pictured in 1991) were found dead at their Santa Fe mansion on Wednesday, February 26
Gene Hackman’s daughter Leslie has broken her silence following her father’s mysterious death in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com (pictured in 1991)
Leslie, 58, said that the family is still processing what happened since ‘there was no indication that there was any problem’ with her father prior to his death.
‘Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,’ she revealed, while adding that her father did not have any major surgeries these last few months.
‘He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.’
She went on to say that his death, however, was ‘not terribly shocking because he was 95.’
Given that she lives in California, she said that it’s been a ‘few months’ since she had last seen and has even heard from her reclusive father despite them being close.
‘We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,’ she shared.
The family is still waiting to hear from police exactly what happened and when they passed away since the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said that their bodies had been in their home for at least a day before deputies found them deceased. An arrest warrant obtained by DailyMail.com revealed both bodies were found with signs of decomposition.
Gene and Betsy got married in 1991 and were married for 34 years before their tragic deaths.
Gene and daughter Elizabeth in March 1979 in Beverly Hills, California
The Hollywood legend, 95, had been with Betsy Arakawa (pictured in 2003), more than 30 years his junior, since 1991
The Superman star was married to first wife Faye Maltese, a bank clerk, from 1956 to 1986. They shared three children together – Christopher Allen, now 65, Elizabeth Jean, 62, and Leslie Anne.
Leslie told DailyMail.com that Gene and Betsy had ‘a wonderful marriage.’
‘They had a wonderful marriage. And I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive,’ she said.
‘[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health.
‘So I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.’
Leslie said that she’ll be heading to New Mexico once she hears back from police.
‘We need to wait and find out whatever information from the police. We weren’t expecting to have to go out there and go through the house and all that,’ she shared.
‘So we have some work cut out for us. But yeah, we’ll be going out to New Mexico.’
Meanwhile, Gene’s nephew, Tim Hackman, also spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com on Thursday.
Gene and his children during the premiere of Superman in Washington, D.C in December 1978
In October 1996, Elizabeth and Leslie were photographed with their father at the premiere of The Chamber in Beverly Hills
Leslie told DailyMail.com that her father was in great shape before his death and ‘liked to do Pilates and Yoga’
He revealed that he and his family had found out about his uncle and Betsy’s death through Leslie – who he claims was the one family member who had the most contact with Gene and Betsy – before the news broke.
Tim, 51, said that he found out on Wednesday night and was saddened to learn that Gene didn’t have a natural death.
‘I mean, he was old. I’m sure he had some [health] concerns, but nothing that was shared,’ he replied when asked if his uncle had any major health concerns.
Tim’s mom Barbara Hackman was married to Richard Hackman, Gene’s brother. Richard, who was a stuntman of Gene’s, passed away 11 years ago.
The last time Tim saw Gene was at his father’s funeral, he revealed.
‘Eleven years ago was the last time I physically saw him. He only came to California during the warm weathers, and then he just stayed in New Mexico.’
Although it’s been over a decade, Mr. Hackman said that he wouldn’t say that the Bonnie and Clyde star was ‘estranged’ from his family.
‘He liked New Mexico. He loved it. It’s a beautiful place,’ he told DailyMail.com.
Santa Fe County deputies were photographed outside of Betsy and Gene’s home in Santa Fe on Thursday as they continue to investigate the cause of death
Leslie and Elizabeth have speculated that their father and stepmother may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak
Most of his communication to his uncle was through Betsy, who he would talk to ‘every once in a while’ since Gene was ‘at the age where he wasn’t really communicative a lot with the family.’
He continued, ‘I was just basically giving her updates on my kids and how they were doing and how I was doing because our major connection was the military background, but that was it really.
‘She’d just always say, “Oh, [Gene’s] doing good.” I mean, he was moving around a lot for 95.’
Betsy was ultimately the one who ‘took care of him.’
‘I truly believe he made it as long as he did because of her,’ Tim insisted.
Given Betsy and Gene’s 31-year age difference, the family had ‘prepared’ that the actor would pass away first and that his wife would take over funeral arrangements.
After the couple’s shocking death, Tim said that the plan has obviously changed.
‘So the preparedness of it was that he would go first and that we would probably, maybe, depending on whatever it was [Betsy] had set up, would go down there and pay our condolences and everything.
Hackman played Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (pictured in the 1968 film)
Hackman also played Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection
‘Now with this, it significantly changes things. I have no idea what – I’m assuming one of his kids will probably take over – and [plan]. I don’t know. It’s still very, very early.’
Last year, Hackman and Arakawa were seen out and about for the first time in two decades.
The actor was spotted holding onto his wife’s arm for balance as the pair grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Before the dinner date, Hackman enjoyed a cup of coffee and some apple pie from a local Speedway store.
The couple’s outing marked the first time they were seen together in public for 21 years, with the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he won the Cecil B. deMille award.
In an interview with Empire in 2020, the retired actor revealed he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented. He said: ‘We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.
‘Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.’
