# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/41 "2025-02-27T16:10:56Z")
My guess as well. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parents died of CO poisoning, a few years back. Public service announcement, kiddies: If you have a CO detector, check the batteries. If you do not, GET ONE. (assuming you have any fossil-fuel appliances whatsoever including furnace/water heater, and/or you have a fireplace). My senior year in college, my roomamtes and I were likely suffering from low-level CO poisoning. Our crappy apartment leaked like a sieve - so we put up weatherstripping / plastic on the windows. And we were tired ALL THE TIME no matter how much we napped. It got better after spring break. We decided we just needed time to rest and decompress. Years later, I finally made the connection. We’d basically poisoned ourselves. The improvement was because we were no longer using the furnace. No way to prove this in hindsight but the symptoms and timing all add up. The fact that we couldn’t afford to weatherstrip the whole place, and that there were still visible gaps around the doors, likely saved our lives. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/42 "2025-02-27T16:36:50Z")
Loved him in Superman, The Firm, The Poseidon Adventure, Hoosiers and No Way Out. Basically, he was great in _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/43 "2025-02-27T16:43:14Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parents died of CO poisoning, a few years back. Also, Vitas Gerulaitis back in '94. Hackman was a fave. Like DavidNRockies said, he made average movies better (like Runaway Jury and Get Shorty) and never just phoned it. A true pro. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/44 "2025-02-27T16:45:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [Sorry, I’m out of gift links this month.] Gotcha covered in post #9. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/45 "2025-02-27T17:00:36Z")
The news stuff _Mrs FtG_ watches went on and on about _Hoosiers_ and such. Barely mentioned _The Conversation_ which I feel is his greatest work. He got much more “into character” in that one than any other, IMHO. [Which makes me think of a post for the questions-with-two-answers thread. What movie has both Harrison Ford and Cindy Williams?] ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/46 "2025-02-27T17:01:17Z")
My favorite scene of his: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BXPl_wr2QNw/maxresdefault.jpg "🔥 Remembering GENE HACKMAN in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) Dir. Mel Brooks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXPl_wr2QNw) ---
**Author:** ![Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicest_of_the_Damned)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/47 "2025-02-27T17:35:20Z")
Story is getting weirder…apparently there were pills scattered on a counter, the dead dog was found in a closet. Maybe they were not thinking clearly due to the gas? Sad no matter what caused it. > **[Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for...](https://apnews.com/article/gene-hackman-found-dead-f6c106e92987aeaaab7b35c1b956a5c8)** > > Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies found Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and a dog dead when they performed a welfare check, a spokesperson said. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/48 "2025-02-27T17:35:47Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Public service announcement, kiddies: If you have a CO detector, check the batteries. If you do not, GET ONE. (assuming you have any fossil-fuel appliances whatsoever including furnace/water heater, and/or you have a fireplace). A few years ago we did a significant remodel of part of our house. One of the requirements for a permit was the installation of CO detectors. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/49 "2025-02-27T17:45:07Z")
> **Hidden by Mod** > > It’s highly recommended to get an annual service contract on a homes furnance. > > They change filters and check the operation. > Most important they sould check the heat exchanger and look for any cracks. That’s a major cause for CO. > > The better companies have a combustion analysis that prints out the reading. It gets stapled to my service tag. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/50 "2025-02-27T17:47:37Z")
**Moderating** : This would be better in another thread then in this one. Also not actually correct. > **How to Reply as a linked Topic** > > Click Reply, in the upper left corner of the reply window is the reply type button, _looks like a curving arrow point to the right_. > > Choose **Reply as linked topic** and it starts a new thread. As an example, you can choose GD, IMHO or The Pit for it. > > That is actually the best method. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/51 "2025-02-27T18:15:01Z")
Noted ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/52 "2025-02-27T18:22:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Gene’s wife looks much younger than him in photos. Seems very unlikely they both died (with the dog) unless CO entered the house. She was 64. The ABC site said this- _Their deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation” due to all of the “circumstances surrounding” the scene, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by ABC News._ ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/53 "2025-02-27T18:23:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I keep going back to Little Bill in Unforgiven, who is a cruel, despotic asshole, and yet you kinda like him and understand why he is what he is I literally just referenced this on another thread as the quintessential example of an “anti-villain” so many good things about this movie but Hackman still stood out as amazing. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/54 "2025-02-27T18:27:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Gene’s wife looks much younger than him in photos. Seems very unlikely they both died (with the dog) unless CO entered the house I’m sure all the horrible details will be poured over by the press in the coming weeks. But I’m amazed in this day and age with all the building codes around boilers and CO detectors, a (I assume) multi millionaire would have burner faulty enough kill a household. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/55 "2025-02-27T18:52:16Z")
More details about the suspicious deaths: > According to a search warrant, obtained by TMZ, a Santa Fe detective who sought a search warrant wrote in his affidavit, he believes "the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak. > > **The fire department came and advised they did not see any signs of carbon monoxide leak or poisoning.** The New Mexico gas company came to the residence and conducted testing on the gas lines in and around the house, and concluded, **“As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated to the pipes in and around the residence.”** > **[Gene Hackman, Wife Betsy Deaths Called 'Suspicious'](https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/27/gene-hackman-death-investigation-suspicious/)** > > Gene Hackman's death and the deaths of his wife and dog are puzzling authorities, who have labeled his passing "suspicious." ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/56 "2025-02-27T18:53:28Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I’m sure all the horrible details will be poured over by the press in the coming weeks. But I’m amazed in this day and age with all the building codes around boilers and CO detectors, a (I assume) multi millionaire would have burner faulty enough kill a household. AIUI, CO poisoning from a central gas furnace is not typically due to a manufacturing defect. Instead, parts of the burner and/or heat exchanger, after many years and many cycles of thermally induced stress, develop a crack that lets CO get to where it ain’t supposed to be. In other words, any gas furnace, no matter how well-built, is vulnerable to this kind of failure. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/57 "2025-02-27T18:54:14Z")
This is a real shame. I hope they will confirm a CO leak or some other cause that was not deliberate. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/58 "2025-02-27T18:56:11Z")
My dog would be found in the closet. That’s his defacto cave/den. If I fell over from some poisioning and happened to have my med bag in my hand, pills would be everywhere. Neither one of those is suspicious in itself. Just coincidental. I knew an elderly man(friend of my Daddy) who was starting his car in the garage one morning. He was waiting on it to heat up to leave. Some reason he closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep. It appeared he had been there and hour or more. He lived. He said it was about the most painful thing he ever survived. So… CO poision is **not** like going into a peaceful sleep. I guess you get there eventually, after you’re brain dead. This is strictly an anecdote. I’m reporting what the man said he experienced. I believed him. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/59 "2025-02-27T19:13:59Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > AIUI, CO poisoning from a central gas furnace is not typically due to a manufacturing defect. Instead, parts of the burner and/or heat exchanger, after many years and many cycles of thermally induced stress, develop a crack that lets CO get to where it ain’t supposed to be. In other words, any gas furnace, no matter how well-built, is vulnerable to this kind of failure Yeah you’d think whoever was taking care of his house (presumably not Hackman as he was 95) would be getting paid more than I spend on maintenance in a decade and sparing no expense to ensure everything was in perfect condition. But I guess that’s not how it works IRL. Again I’m sure all the horrible details will be spread all over the Internet in the months to come. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861/60 "2025-02-27T19:19:55Z")
Doesn’t fatal CO poisoning leave the body with cherry red skin? We can’t tell from this distance, but whoever found the bodies could tell right away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead-and-dog/1014861.md?page=4)