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.
“He kept them at arms length all their lives”
Do we know if that’s true, or just speculation?
If so, it would be interesting to know the reason.
I guess it means you have mental issues.
“Hackman dumped their mother and his three children when they were very young to marry a woman less than half his age, “
He and his first wife had been married for 30 years, and according to a documentary we watched last night, the children were adults when they divorced. He didn’t dump her when the kids were “very young”.
“When Gene Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1986, his children Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie were 26, 22, and 19 years old, respectively.”
She preceded him in death so his children will inherit everything. He had excluded them from his will......................
That's what I'm thinking too.
Double ironic is that his own father deserted the family when GH was 12 or 13.
Perfectly logical question. You are the squeamish, effeminate type
What good is a bad or outdated will?
No church as a secondary option? No God involved after blessing them with the very money in the first place.
Jesus: Do I know you nice person?
Thanks.
Apparently she was his caregiver and very protective of him. And he probably didn;t want one....few do...
My answer is accurate, you have some mental illness compelling you to spam thread after thread with that same question, although people answer it and even direct you to sources, yet you keep posting the same spam, over and over, unable to stop it seems.
Of course, a POA dies with the grantor.
They can now.
I was surprised that Hackman's will had no provision for what to do should his wife predecease him, as that's usually one of the first questions that has to be answered in completing a will when you are married.
They said so
Maybe the wife bought a will kit for $99.99, filled it out and took it to a notary public. If things get nasty, I am sure we will hear more about it..
Maybe so. Then again, Hackman made some poor decisions in his 50s and 60s.
People keep trying to find fault with his kids, but Hackman said he never spent much time with them. He was away filming for months at a time when they were growing up.
Then, when they were in their teens and twenties, he left their mother for this woman their age.
Then, he moved to New Mexico with her in 1990.
And now, we find out that, in 1995, he made her the sole beneficiary of his fortune?
And people are angry with his kids?
You talk so much
my trust and will SPECIFICALLY state the names of those shall not receive anything and the specific reasons.
They’ve spent hundreds of thousands and decades in courts after the estate of every parent and grandparent. Family completely destroyed by them.
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