Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes

Summary

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman died of natural causes a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died from a rare disease
Authorities say it's possible Hackman was not aware his wife had died because of his advanced Alzheimer's
95-year-old Hackman's cause of death has been ruled as cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease a contributing factor
Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - a disease caused by exposure to infected rodents
Their bodies were found in their home in the US state of New Mexico last week, along with the body of a pet dog
The results of the pet's autopsy are not yet ready, but authorities say dogs can not carry hantavirus
Oscar-winner Hackman was considered one of Hollywood's greatest "tough guys", before retiring from acting and moving out of the limelight more than two decades ago

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Watch: Officials reveal causes of death for Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay

Pilates, painting and bike rides: Gene Hackman's life in Santa Fepublished at 20:35 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March
Samantha Granville
Reporting from Santa Fe, New Mexico
Image caption,
The view into Santa Fe from Hackman's estate
Gene Hackman was a normal person in Santa Fe. And he really loved that.
Residents in the New Mexico city say they were excited to welcome such a massive celebrity to the community when he and his wife Betsy Arakawa arrived more than 20 years ago, but they treated him like anyone else.
"He wasn't famous here" was the phrase I heard when asking residents about why the movie star chose to call New Mexico's capital home. They describe a down-to-earth, chatty man who supported local businesses and enjoyed its flourishing arts scene.
Everyone here has a story to tell about Hackman, who was found dead alongside his wife and their dog at their home in the quiet desert city late last month.
Everything in Santa Fe is colourful, from the woven tapestry hanging on shop walls to the clothes people wear and even their personalities.
Hackman immediately got involved with local art museums, most notably sitting on the board of directors at the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, while Arakawa had a luxury home-goods store, and collaborated with artists on various projects.
Read more about what Hackman and Arakawa's neighbours told me about the couple here.
Hackman's Hollywood careerpublished at 20:32 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March
Image source, Gett
He won the best actor Oscar for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's 1971 thriller The French Connection, and another for best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood's Western film Unforgiven in 1992.
A relative latecomer to Hollywood, Hackman's breathrough came in his thirties, when he was nominated for an Oscar for portraying Buck Barrow in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde - opposite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway - and again for I Never Sang for My Father in 1970.
Both films saw him recognised in the supporting actor category. He was also nominated for best leading actor in 1988 for playing the FBI agent in Mississippi Burning.
He played more than 100 roles during his career, including supervillain Lex Luthor in the Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s.
Hackman featured opposite many other Hollywood heavyweights including Al Pacino in 1973's Scarecrow and Gene Wilder in 1974's Young Frankenstein.
His last big-screen appearance came as Monroe Cole in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004, after which he stepped back from Hollywood for a quieter life in New Mexico.
- Read more: Gene Hackman: One of Hollywood's greatest 'tough guys'
Cause of death yet to be given for Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawapublished at 20:27 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March
Caitlin Wilson
US live editor
Image source, Getty Images
Police in the US state of New Mexico are set to give an update on their investigation into the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The couple appeared to have been dead for up to 10 days before their bodies were found at their home in New Mexico last month, according to police. They are yet to say what could have caused their deaths.
But the circumstances surrounding the deaths were deemed "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation", according to a search warrant - though law enforcement says there was no indication of a struggle.
One of the couple's dogs was also found deceased. Two other pet dogs were alive at the property.
Hackman, 95, won two Academy Awards for his work in the films The French Connection and Unforgiven, as part of a wide-ranging career. Arakawa, 65, was a classical pianist.
We are expecting to hear more from law enforcement at 16:00 ET (21:00 GMT).
Stick with us and we'll bring you all the updates as we hear them. You'll also be able to watch the news conference live at the top of this page.