Gene Hackman’s Autopsy Report Reveals Cause of Death and Health Struggles in Final Years, Deets Inside!

April 28, 2025: The final autopsy report for legendary actor and two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman has been released, shedding light on the health challenges he faced before his passing at the age of 95. The report, obtained by Fox News Digital, confirms that Hackman died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with Alzheimer’s disease identified as a significant contributing factor.

Hackman, celebrated for his roles in classics such as The French Connection and Unforgiven, had been quietly battling a number of serious health issues. The report details a long history of congestive heart failure, severe chronic hypertensive changes in his kidneys, and microscopic evidence of advanced-stage Alzheimer’s disease in his brain.

According to the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico, Hackman also suffered from severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His medical history included coronary artery stents, a bypass graft, and an aortic valve replacement—pointing to a prolonged battle with heart disease.

One particularly poignant detail from the autopsy report was the suggestion that Hackman, due to the advanced stage of his Alzheimer’s, may not have been aware of the recent passing of his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

A toxicology report found only trace amounts of acetone in his system, which doctors said was consistent with prolonged fasting. His stomach was noted to be empty at the time of death.

Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest in a private memorial service earlier this month, attended by close family and friends. The couple had been married since 1991 and shared a quiet life away from the spotlight in New Mexico during Hackman’s later years.