Gene Hackman’s daughter revealed she hadn’t spoken to her famous father for months but stated he was in good health before his mysterious passing.

 

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Gene Hackman’s youngest daughter, Leslie Anne Hackman, 58, has spoken out about her father’s health in the months leading up to his passing.

On Thursday, Leslie revealed that she had not spoken to the Oscar-winning actor or his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for a “couple of months” before their deaths. However, she emphasized that the Unforgiven star was in “very good physical condition” right up until the end.

Hackman, Arakawa, and one of their three dogs were found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Wednesday after a maintenance worker, unable to reach the couple, became concerned and contacted authorities.

Speaking with the Daily Mail, Leslie shared that she and her family are still processing the tragic news while awaiting further details about the cause of death. She and her older sister, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, 63, suspect a possible carbon monoxide leak.

Despite living in California, hundreds of miles from her father’s home, Leslie described their relationship as “close” and stated there had been no indication of health concerns prior to his passing.

“Even at 95, he was in great shape,” she told the outlet, adding that the French Connection star had not undergone any major surgeries in recent months. “He enjoyed Pilates and yoga and kept up with them several times a week.”

While acknowledging that Hackman’s passing wasn’t entirely shocking due to his advanced age, Leslie expressed deep sadness over the loss of both her father and stepmother.

“They had a wonderful marriage,” she said. “Betsy took incredible care of him and always prioritized his health. I am so grateful to her for that, and I’m heartbroken over her passing.”

Leslie now plans to travel to New Mexico after speaking with Santa Fe authorities. “We need to wait for information from the police,” she explained. “We weren’t expecting to have to go out there and go through everything.”

Earlier on Thursday, Leslie, Elizabeth, and Hackman’s granddaughter, Annie, confirmed his and Arakawa’s deaths in a statement to The Post:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy. 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. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office also released a statement, confirming that there were “no apparent signs of foul play” at the couple’s home. However, a police affidavit described the circumstances as “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”

Authorities noted that the front door of the couple’s multimillion-dollar home was “unsecured and open,” with no signs of forced entry or theft. They also discovered an open prescription pill bottle and scattered pills in the room where Arakawa and their deceased dog were found.