Posted on 03/14/2025 9:29:21 AM PDT by Red Badger
Surprising Detail, Twist In Gene Hackman's Will Revealed By Jason Hall
March 14, 2025
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Portrait Photo: Getty Images Legendary actor Gene Hackman's children were reportedly left out of his will, TMZ reports.
Hackman, 95, made his wife, Betsy Arakawa, the sole beneficiary of his fortune in 1995, leaving out his son Christopher and daughters Leslie and Elizabeth. Arakawa, 65, who is suspected to have died one week before her husband, had also reportedly listed Hackman as the sole beneficiary in her own will and documents allegedly show that her savings would be donated to charity if both died within 90 days of each other.
Awakawa's estate could still go to charity as New Mexico is a community property state while Hackman's estate could presumably go to his children, despite not being included in his will, as they are the most direct living heirs. Hackman's son, Christopher, the oldest of his three adult children, reportedly hired prominent California trust and estate attorney Andrew M. Katzenstein to challenge the will, according to TMZ.
Hackman was reported to have died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer's as a factor, while Arakawa was reported to have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico State Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell confirmed. Betsy is suspected to have died first as all outgoing communication from her cellphone and email ceased on February 11, the last day she was spotted publicly, while Gene is suspected to have died on February 18, as it was the last day his pacemaker registered data, though Dr. Gerald specified that there was no reliable scientific method to determine an exact time for either death.
The couple's dog, Zinna, was found dead inside a locked crate by first responders, while two others were reported to have wandered the property for days and guided first responders to the legendary actor. Officials reiterated that foul play was not suspected in Hackman and Arakawa's deaths and the scene was tested for carbon monoxide, with only a minute leak found that was deemed to be insignificant.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, and his wife were married for 34 years. Police reportedly found the couple at around 1:45 p.m. local time on February 26. Hackman's legendary acting career spanned more than 60 years, providing an everyman believability to numerous iconic roles, including playing Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992), which won him the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
The California native was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for roles in Bonnie & Clyde (1968) and I Never Sang for My Father (1971), as well as Best Actor for Mississippi Burning (1989). Hackman is also remembered for playing arch villain Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980), as well as Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers (1986) and Royal Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) among numerous other iconic roles.
I made provision for my wife unlikely before me. In blended families that is important.
She was his full-time caregiver. By all accounts, she took very good care of him as his health declined.
“I guess given the age difference, neither Hackman nor his wife thought he would go before she did.”
I guess given the age difference, neither Hackman nor his wife thought she would go before she did?
Doesn’t look like the children cared.
Hackman dumped their mother and his three children when they were very young to marry a woman less than half his age, and he never had anything to do with them after the divorce.
I wish the children all the luck in the world in getting their inheritance.
According to Brave AI:
Gene Hackman’s net worth was estimated at $80 million at the time of his death.
Thanks. I reversed it in the post.
One of his nephews said that everyone in the family, including Gene and Betsy, assumed that because she was 30 years younger than him he would go first.
She was apparently in very good health until she got the hanta virus.
And......
He ironically made a film called ‘I Never Sang for my Father’ which was excellent and dealt with strained Father-Son relationships.
“$80 million”
Let the games begin!
Well, now we know why the kids didn’t check on dear old dad.
or Now we know why the kids made sure Awakawa died first.
I am all over my elderly father. He calls or texts me every single morning when he opens his eyes so I can be sure he hasn’t had a heart attack or is helpless on the floor. I am involved in everything he does but at a distance so he is independent. We speak no less than 10 times a day about even the most simple things when I can’t be with him.
That was surprisingly low, to me.
I would have figured hundreds of millions.
But his pay for some really big movies was only like $2 million per............
In Poland, if you are married and die without a will with no children, your spouse gets the house but only 1/2 of the rest of your estate. The rest goes to your family: parents, then siblings, their children, etc.. It's probably a legacy of peasants trying to keep family farms big enough to be viable.
Poster corrected it in post 15
oops, post 18
“She was his full-time caregiver. By all accounts, she took very good care of him as his health declined”
I am not in their shoes but if I had $83 million I would hire some help to ease the load on my wife.
Did the two dogs that were loose gnaw on them?
Not a square corner in the place...
His children were all young adults in their 20’s when their parents divorced. It’s also true that their new stepmother was the same age they were.
didn’t his first wife get half of his wealth decades ago when they divorced? I assume they were living in California way back then.
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