Gene Hackman's youngest daughter, Leslie Anne Hackman, spoke out about her father's health leading up to his death. Leslie, 58, revealed that she had not spoken to Hackman or his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in "a couple of months" before their passing, via The Daily Mail.
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Despite this, she said Hackman, 95, was "in very good physical condition" until the end.
Hackman, Arakawa, and one of their dogs were found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday. A maintenance worker became concerned after being unable to reach the couple. The actor's death was not entirely unexpected, given his age, but Leslie said she was still processing the news.
"There was no indication that there was any problem," she told the Daily Mail. "Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition."
Hackman Reportedly in Good Health
Leslie said Hackman continued to practice Pilates and yoga several times a week, which kept him in good health. She added that he had not undergone any major surgeries in the months prior to his passing. Leslie speculated that her father and stepmother may have died from a carbon monoxide leak, though no official cause of death has been confirmed.
Leslie, who lives in California, admitted that she hadn't seen Hackman or Arakawa for a few months. "We were close," she said. "But everything was normal and everything was good." She also praised Arakawa for taking "very, very good care" of Hackman, crediting her for keeping him in good health. "I'm very saddened by her passing," she added.
Leslie, along with her sister Elizabeth Jean Hackman, 63, and Hackman's granddaughter Annie, confirmed the deaths in a statement Thursday. "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa," they said. "We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."
Leslie plans to travel to New Mexico after speaking with authorities. "We need to wait and find out whatever information from the police," she said. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that there were "no apparent signs of foul play" at the scene.
