Gene Hackman 95 RIP

[Rudi]

There may be more questions than answers. A strange case.

 

[Ματθιας]

The same agency that's investigating this, is the same agency that botched Alec Baldwin's case. Think about that.

 

[SMSgt]

I saw earlier that the cause of death is unknown but NOT consistent with CO.

CO poisoning has been ruled out, and Gene's pacemaker's last "event" was on the 17th, presumed to be when he died.

 

[petepeterson]

CO poisoning has been ruled out, and Gene's pacemaker's last "event" was on the 17th, presumed to be when he died.

Pacemaker- the human "black box." Who knew?

 

[Narragansett]

A wonderful actor. Sorry to see him go out like this.

I think English Bob got his revenge.

 

[tlawler]

Rest in Peace Betsy, Gene and the pooch and condolences to their loved ones.
He'd been in business for a while but my first time really noticing him was when the folks took us to see Poseidon Adventure. The scene where after the Shelly Winters character died and he took God to task hit hard. Enjoyed his work ever since.

That was the first movie I saw with him when I was 10 and I really didn’t like his character. That scene where Shelly Winters died was pretty powerful and resonated with me as well. I didn’t see The French Connection until a few years later because my Mom thought it too violent. When I finally did see it a few years later, I really liked him as Popeye.

 

[DWalt]

Pacemaker- the human "black box." Who knew?

My wife has been dependent on a Pacemaker to keep her alive for over 20 years. Her latest Pacemaker was installed about two years ago. It has a wireless monitor box kept on a bedside table, and it records and transmits everything going on with the Pacemaker. I assume that is what Gene Hackman had. Remote Monitoring for Implanted Heart Devices | Medtronic

 

[ladder13]

I liked him in The Firm, along with Wilford Brimley spitting image of our forum friend redlevel.

 

[Breakaway500]

Sources say Gene had a cardiac event that dropped him. Wife of many years found him on the floor and made the decision to end her life with some prescription drug. Dog 1 got stuck in the closet somehow. Other two dogs were out,and front door found open.

They say the bodies were found at least a week after death by maintenance worker. It's a mystery...but that theory seems most logical (to me) at this point. The two survivors ain't talking. There are worse ways to go if ole Grims got your ticket. Still tragic all around though.

 

[SWFan27]

I re-watched Mississippi Burning again last night. Hackman is so good in that.

 

[taz666]

I'm thinking this all happened during their usual morning routine. Wife letting the dogs out of kennels and Gene at the door letting them outside.


To expand: Wife has a cardiac event while letting out the dogs, calls out to Gene who is just outside the mudroom door (sunglasses on), Gene rushes back inside, trips and goes down.

 

[Ματθιας]

Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities say
MORGAN LEE
Thu, March 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM MST

Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities say

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities revealed Friday that actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease and showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s disease a full week after his wife died of hantavirus in their home.

 

[Sistema1927]

Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities say
MORGAN LEE
Thu, March 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM MST

Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities say

I just saw that as well. You have wonder if she ignored her failing health due to the Hantavirus in order to continue to care for him in his advanced dementia, thus sacrificing herself.

 

[ACORN]

A sad end to a great actor and his beloved

 

[Erich]

So sad. This was my reminder to put poison out for the cute little rodents that always try to colonize my yard here in the foothills.

 

[Ματθιας]

I just saw that as well. You have wonder if she ignored her failing health due to the Hantavirus in order to continue to care for him in his advanced dementia, thus sacrificing herself.

She probably thought it was the flu not realizing it was hanta. She probably got it doing early spring cleaning in an outbuilding, but who knows.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I always enjoy the expert comments posted before the actual truth is revealed . . .

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[BC38]

I just saw that as well. You have wonder if she ignored her failing health due to the Hantavirus in order to continue to care for him in his advanced dementia, thus sacrificing herself.

She probably thought it was the flu not realizing it was hanta. She probably got it doing early spring cleaning in an outbuilding, but who knows.

I always enjoy the expert comments posted before the actual truth is revealed . . .

In a situation like this, there will not and cannot be an "expert" analysis of exactly what happened. BOTH of them are dead, so there are no witnesses to ask exactly what happened, and no way to precisely determine the sequence of events.

You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to piece together the available information and come to a logical conclusion about what actually happened. Unfortunately, from the available evidence that is the best anyone will ever be able to do.

Based on the known facts:

1) Gene Hackman had a serious heart condition. He also had a pacemaker that monitored and recorded his heart functions.

2) The last recorded data from his pacemaker indicated that he had been dead for a couple of weeks when his body was discovered.

3) He was also suffering from advanced Alzheimer's/dementia, and his wife had been his primary care-giver.

4) The level of "mummification" of Mrs. Hackman's hands and feet indicate that she had been dead for some time - a week or two longer - than her husband.

5) Post-mortem examination of her body indicates that she had contracted Hantavirus - which was the most likely cause of her death. Exactly how she was infected is unknown and likely unknowable. Though it is common knowledge that exposure to infected mouse droppings is the most common route of infection for this particular virus.

So, from these known facts, the most logical scenario would be that that she died from Hantavirus infection a week or more before he died. It isn't much of a stretch to surmise that, due to his reduced mental capacity/faculties, he didn't reach out for any kind of help, and then he consequentially also died.
At his advanced age, his death was most likely due to neglecting his own serious health conditions - because he had no one there to ensure he took his medications, etc.

At least that is how I see it.

Feel free to point out anything that would contradict this as the most likely scenario, or any facts I may have overlooked.

 

[Warren Sear]

I always enjoy the expert comments posted before the actual truth is revealed . . .

Lots of detectives on this forum...