Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in February (Image: Getty)
The plans for Gene Hackman’s funeral have been drastically changed after the Oscar-winning actor’s tragic death. The French Connection star was found dead at his Santa Fe home at the age of 95 on February 26. He was discovered alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was 65 at the time of her death, and one of their dogs. Gene’s nephew, Tim Hackman, revealed that the family had originally planned for Betsy to handle his funeral arrangements, believing he would likely pass away before her due to the 30-year age gap.
“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,” he told the . But after the couple’s tragic death, Tim explained that the plan has changed and it is likely will sort the arrangements.
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Gene’s family originally planned for Betsy to take care of his funeral arrangements (Image: Getty)
“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,” he said. The news came as a shock to Tim and the rest of the family as he revealed they were unaware of any major health concerns.
“I mean, he was old. I’m sure he had some [health] concerns, but nothing that was shared,” he admitted. Tim is the son of Gene’s brother, Richard Hackman, who often worked as his stuntman.
Although Tim last saw Gene at his father’s funeral 11 years ago, he insisted the Bonnie and Clyde star was not estranged from the family.
Instead, and rarely travelled. “He only came to California during the warm weathers, and then he just stayed in New Mexico,” Tim explained.
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Betsy died around one week before Gene (Image: Getty)
, a rare but serious infectious disease that affects the lungs.
It is contracted after coming into contact with an infected rodent and 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Meanwhile, Gene died rom coronary artery disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a contributing factor. Medical investigator Dr Heather Jarrell confirmed that Gene was likely alive for up to one week after Betsy’s death.
The Royal Tenenbaums star’s pacemaker recorded its last event on 17 February, while Betsy’s last known activity took place on 11 February, when she was last seen.