Wednesday, February 26, 2025, was a sad day for the entertainment industry. Sadly, two actors passed on the same day. Gossip Girl star, Michelle Trachtenberg, died at the age of 39, and Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, also passed away. Gene was 95, and Betsy was 63.
Discover our latest podcast
At present, the couple’s deaths are being investigated, but no foul play has been suspected. As the deaths are recent, a cause has not been announced either.
However, Gene Hackman suffered several health issues as he grew older, including a near-heart attack.
Gene Hackman nearly had a heart attack in the '90s
As reported by Express, Gene Hackman had a near-heart attack in 1990, which meant he had to have an angioplasty. The issue occurred while the actor was on holiday. At the time, Hackman was 60.
According to reports, he drove himself to the hospital, and a balloon catheter was used to unblock an artery supplying blood to his heart. Cardiologist Dr Herbert Semler confirmed at the time:
We got him just in the nick of time. Fortunately for him, it was in a very excellent area that we could easily reach with a balloon catheter and dilate it.
Gene Hackman retired from acting in 2004. Five years later, the actor told Empire that he had been advised to retire for his health. He revealed that a stress test showed his heart couldn’t cope with any form of stress. As per Mirror, he said:
The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.
Gene Hackman was involved in two car accidents
Not only did Hackman nearly suffer a heart attack, but he was also involved in two car accidents—one of them turning into a brawl.
According to Express, in 2001, Gene was driving a car when he rear-ended another car with two male passengers.
A witness to the accident claimed that the driver of the other car ‘was really close to [Gene’s] face and kept stepping up on him.’ The witness explained that at first, the actor kept calm, but words were exchanged, and Hackman ‘just hit him four or five times.’
Per Express, Hackman was then kicked in the groin and wrestled to the ground. However, Hackman’s representatives claimed the actor doesn’t remember being kicked and he only ‘hit back’ after being shoved by the other driver.
Gene Hackman’s other car accident occurred in 2012. At the time, he was 81 and was struck by a car while riding a bike in Florida.
Express reported that Gene wasn’t wearing a helmet when the accident occurred and was taken to Ryder Trauma Centre in Miami with ‘serious’ injuries. However, Gene’s publicist said he only had ‘a few bumps and bruises.’
Read more:
Céline Dion: Singer gives her fans good news about her health, says she is going through therapy
TV presenter Henry Kelly passes away at 78: 'He will be sorely missed'
Donald Sutherland: Hunger Games actor dies aged 88
Sources used:
Express: ‘Gene Hackman’s health and hospital dash as actor found dead alongside wife’
Mirror: ‘Gene Hackman's health woes before tragic death - from heart surgery to stress warning’
