Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa’s causes of death revealed

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of unconnected natural causes, medical examiner reveals. Credit: Reuters

Transcript

00:00The cause of death for Ms. Betsy Hackman, aged 65 years, is Hantavirus Pulmonary

00:08Syndrome. The manner of death is natural. Autopsy examination and full-body

00:16post-mortem CT demonstrated no findings of trauma internally or externally, with

00:24microscopic findings consistent with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Laboratory

00:30testing was positive for Hantavirus at a clinical lab, with required

00:36confirmation testing positive at Scientific Laboratories Division. Testing

00:42for COVID-19, influenza, and other common respiratory viruses was negative. Testing

00:49for carbon monoxide was negative. There were no other significant natural

00:55disease findings. Pills present on scene were thyroid medication, which were being

01:01taken as prescribed and is not currently a concern for a contributory cause of

01:07death. The cause of death for Mr. Gene Hackman, aged 95 years, is hypertensive

01:15and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a

01:20significant contributory factor. Autopsy examination and a full-body post-mortem

01:28CT examination demonstrated no acute findings of internal or external trauma

01:34and showed severe heart disease, including multiple surgical procedures

01:40involving the heart, evidence of prior heart attacks, and severe changes of the

01:45kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure. Examination of the brain showed

01:51advanced Alzheimer's disease, as well as blood vessel changes in the brain

01:56secondary to chronic high blood pressure. Laboratory testing performed at

02:02Scientific Laboratories Division was negative for COVID-19, influenza, and

02:08other common respiratory viruses. Testing for Hantavirus was negative. Testing for

02:14carbon monoxide was negative. Additionally, there were no autopsy

02:20findings concerning for Hantavirus infection.