A former friend’s revelations about a previously unidentified altercation from Gene Hackman’s later years have been made public in the months following his tragic death at the age of 95.
Months after Gene Hackman’s tragic death at 95, a wild story from his final years has come to light involving a minor car crash, a roadside brawl, and a surreal moment of self-awareness.
In a new interview, a close friend of Hackman’s who met him in 2004 at his Santa Fe restaurant, revealed the incident. He recalls that Gene once visited his home in Los Angeles. These men started a little bit of harassment against him after they saw him.
After being rear-ended at a light, Hackman said, “Gene being Gene, puts it in drive, goes forward, puts it in reverse, and then whacks them.” At the following light, things escalated. “Gene and Gene both leave the car, and they go for it.”
When Lanham later asked how he fared, Hackman gave a typically dry, cinematic reply: “Well I was on my back and I kinda looked up over my head and there’s a bus stop with a poster and there I was on the poster! And I was like, ‘Hackman what the hell are you doing?’” he told the Daily Mail.
After retiring in 2004, Hackman, who is best known for The French Connection and Unforgiven, resigned from public life. In their Santa Fe home earlier this year, he and his wife Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead.
According to autopsy results, Hackman had battled congestive heart failure for a long time, had a bi-ventricular pacemaker since 2019, and had Alzheimer’s in advanced stages. Additionally, he had “severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease,” as well as heart-related injuries from previous heart attacks.
Tragically, Arakawa passed away first, likely around February 12 as a result of Hantavirus complications, a rare illness linked to rodent droppings. She was conducting research on flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to her death, according to a report. Hackman passed away on February 18 after taking a virus test that turned his wife’s body.
Police were greeted with a heartbreaking scene: their dog guarding Betsy’s body, notes exchanged between the couple scattered throughout the home, and photos of their adored German Shepherds all over.
Eight outbuildings on their property, including sheds, garages, and even cars, were found to have rodent infestations by a subsequent health inspection. Additionally, investigators discovered flaws throughout, which suggested the couple had been having trouble with the situation for some time.
Later, authorities determined that first responders who entered the house were exposed to a hantavirus risk.
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