Forensic experts came to a heartrending conclusion last week about the manner of death for actor Gene Hackman: he died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimer’s disease a week after a rare, rodent-borne disease took the life of his wife at their home in Santa Fe.

The partially mummified remains of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb. 26 when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police.

Authorities unraveled the mysterious circumstances and revealed that Arakawa likely died Feb. 11 at home from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

Hackman, in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, may have been unaware that his wife was dead.

“He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that’s what resulted in his death,” chief medical investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell said. “It’s quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.”

Here are seven quotes from Hackman about acting:

“Dysfunctional families have sired a number of pretty good actors.”

“My mother and I were at a film once, and we came out through the lobby and she said, ‘I want to see you do that someday.’ And that was all that was needed. Because I already wanted to do it. But you have to have somebody tell you, or you need to be pushed a bit. And that’s the only thing she’s ever said to me about acting. Was she wanted to see me do that.”

“I do the same thing now as when I was just starting, I ask myself a few questions: How is this character like me? How is he unlike me? In the difference between these two, what is important? What choices can I make which will further the author’s intent? I ask myself where, when, why—real simple questions. I do an atmospheric kind of thing by dealing with objects such as where I’ve been when I come into a room, where I’m going when I leave it. Before every scene, I still do the same relaxation exercises [acting teacher George Morrison] taught me 20-odd years ago. First-year acting tasks. Those work for me.”

“Of course, you can’t do just that. You have to make good choices and do a lot of technical things, too. It took 10 years for me to fill up as a person, but once I became mature all of that kicked in in a simple, direct way.”

“You go through stages in your career that you feel very good about yourself. Then you feel awful, like, ‘Why didn’t I choose something else?’ But overall I’m pretty satisfied that I made the right choice when I decided to be an actor.”

“I don’t watch my films unless I absolutely have to. I get very nervous. It’s more my perception of myself, or my desire of what I would like to look like. All I see are the double chins and the bags under the eyes and the receding hairline. … I feel like when I’m actually doing the work, I know what I’m doing and I feel good about most of the stuff that I do. But when I see it on the screen, I have no idea if it’s good, bad, or indifferent. I can’t be objective. I leave it up to other people to tell me.”

“If you look at yourself as a star you’ve already lost something in the portrayal of any human being. … I need to keep myself on the edge and keep as pure as possible. You need something to bring you down to a sense of who you are and who you’re portraying. You need to remember you’re not a movie star and that you shouldn’t be too happy. You should never take anything for granted.”

☆☆☆☆☆

To receive free email notification when we post new articles like this, sign up below. Clever Journeys does & will not sell or share your information with anyone.

☆☆☆☆☆

IN GOD WE TRUST

Thanks for supporting independent true journalism with a small tip. Dodie & Jack

CLICK HERE for GREEN PASTURE BENEFITS

Use Code CLEVER10 for a 10% discount on Green Pasture products today!

CLICK HERE for GOOD HEALTH!

GREENPASTURE.ORG

CINDY LEAL MASSEY, TEXAS AUTHOR

Now Available CLICK Here!

CleverJourneys is on Gab.com