# Gene Hackman and wife found dead, and dog **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [February 27, 2025, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861 "2025-02-27T08:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/181 "2025-03-04T20:46:17Z")
Ya know, I was going to post that because I love the song. However, to poop on this party, apparently that never happened. They believe the dog nipped her a couple of times to try to wake her, but did not eat her in starvation. [At least that’s what Wikipedia claims.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Prevost#Death) Yeah, that took the wind out of my sails, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/182 "2025-03-04T21:11:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > And… what? She drank and starved herself to death at age 40. The body wasn’t discovered for a while. Not much connection. Intended it as a response to: > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > What were the other dogs, who survived, eating before the scene was found? _The cops came in and they looked around_ _Throwing up everywhere over what they found_ _The handiwork of Mary’s little dachshund_ _That **hungry** little dachshund!_ _She was a winner_ _Who became the doggie’s dinner._ As the good Dr. notes, not accurate. But a catchy lyric nonetheless. The Jesus of Cool indeed! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/183 "2025-03-04T21:20:17Z")
Ok, got it. Sorry, didn’t intend to sound harsh there. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/184 "2025-03-04T21:45:01Z")
Its always a dachshund. 😋 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/185 "2025-03-04T22:26:49Z")
Unless it’s a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/186 "2025-03-04T23:07:25Z")
whoops! Linked to the wrong spot. The “nipping” shows up in [“In Popular Culture”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Prevost#In_popular_culture) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/187 "2025-03-05T00:47:26Z")
The gas company found a _very_ small leak on one of the burners of the gas stove, but that’s not believed to be the cause. ---
**Author:** ![Loggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/188 "2025-03-05T01:57:48Z")
What i find strange is that Hackman has 3 kids, yet wasnt found for 9 days. You’d think that they would check in on him from time to time, especially at his age. Probably grand-kids too? IMDB doesnt say… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/189 "2025-03-05T02:24:09Z")
I would go months without calling my parents when they were still alive. They did the same with me & my sibs. No animosity, no estrangement. Just how our family was wired. We’re far from alone in being that way. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/190 "2025-03-05T02:41:49Z")
I don’t see the significance of mistaking a dog. It is interesting the other two dogs were at a doggie daycare. It’s horrible to think of a dog dying slowly from lack of water. My dog was crate trained. He was raised in the crate and would go in on his own to sleep. The crate avoided accidents on the carpet. There is a water dish attached to the door. But it wouldn’t last more than a day. > **[Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/03/03/sheriff-gene-hackman-dead-dog-misidentified/81174682007/)** > > Authorities are still unraveling the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. Equally puzzling were reports their German shepherd had died. He hadn't. > [@](#): > > USA TODAY learned the dog that perished in the Hackman home was actually Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed-breed who had once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Her body was found in a closed crate in the home, according to Joey Padilla, who took the surviving dogs to his facility, ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/191 "2025-03-05T02:44:23Z")
This whole thing is beginning to sound as Keystone Kops-ish as the early JonBenet Ramsey investigations. Dumb stuff said early and officers making a hash of what evidence there may be can not only destroy confidence in the final findings, but even in the department itself. And of course ensure the truth can never be known. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/192 "2025-03-05T06:38:37Z")
Well yeah, they screwed up. But there’s no reason to think foul play was involved here. Jon Benet was definitely murdered, no further evidence was needed to determine that. Lacking evidence of crime, which autopsies would reveal, there’s no need to know any more about the truth in this case. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/193 "2025-03-05T07:41:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > and officers making a hash of what evidence there may be What evidence did they make a hash out of? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/194 "2025-03-05T13:30:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s horrible to think of a dog dying slowly from lack of water. The dog’s really the only thing that interests me about this story. I’ve nothing against Hackman, but he lived a rich, full life. I just don’t want to know that dog suffered. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/195 "2025-03-05T13:43:59Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’ve nothing against Hackman, but he lived a rich, full life. I just don’t want to know that dog suffered. I also feel for Hackmann’s wife, who was just 63 and that’s too early to go. And given the circumstances, she probably suffered too. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/196 "2025-03-05T15:25:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I would go months without calling my parents when they were still alive. They did the same with me & my sibs. No animosity, no estrangement. Just how our family was wired. > > We’re far from alone in being that way. I speak to my mother and grandmother four times per year _on a good year_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/197 "2025-03-05T15:28:16Z")
And of course no one knows what’s going on in other people’s families. Gene Hackman, for instance, seemed to be a perfectly nice person, but perhaps he and his children were estranged. Or perhaps not, and they had a warm relationship but not having spoken with them for a week or more isn’t that unusual. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/198 "2025-03-05T15:31:22Z")
In my family, the ones we get along with best are the ones we see the least. When the ones from the other side of the country come to visit, it’s a special occasion, and everybody plays nice. The ones who live nearby get on each other’s nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/199 "2025-03-05T16:05:38Z")
It’s also entirely possible that the lapse in communication was handwaved away because “if anything happened, Betsy would let us know.” I was in a situation like that with my mom, we would normally talk about once a week, but a couple of weeks could go by easily if I called at a bad time, and I knew if anything bad happened medically, I’d get a call straight away from someone. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/200 "2025-03-05T16:15:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And of course no one knows what’s going on in other people’s families. Gene Hackman, for instance, seemed to be a perfectly nice person, but perhaps he and his children were estranged. Or perhaps not, and they had a warm relationship but not having spoken with them for a week or more isn’t that unusual. And we don’t know, he might not be able to talk on the phone at the end. My grandmother had another 10 years of life at that age but was deaf as a stump and refused to wear hearing aids. The statements from the children (if you can call people in their 60s that) seem to be loving and supportive. And maybe they were. But I don’t know if any live in the same state. They probably were confident their stepmother who was their age had things under control. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861.md?page=11)