No one could have imagined the tragic end of Gene Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 63, who had been married for three decades. The bodies of the legendary actor and the pianist were found last February in a state of "decomposition" and "mummification" at their home in New Mexico, where one of their three dogs was also discovered dead. Their deaths shocked Hollywood and the entire world.
Despite the rumors and headlines that spread earlier this year, both the Superman and Unforgiven star and his wife died of natural causes, not from carbon monoxide poisoning as was initially suspected and believed by the actor’s family. Some of their most valuable possessions went up for sale months after their deaths.
The auction house Bonhams will put up for sale a total of 400 personal items belonging to the actor in an auction called The Gene Hackman Collection: A Life in Art. Among them are his Golden Globe statuettes, including those he received for his roles in Unforgiven and The Royal Tenenbaums; a Seiko “Pepsi” watch; artworks by artists such as Kandinsky, Matisse, Milton Avery, and Richard Diebenkorn; and a sculpture attributed to Auguste Rodin, along with various household and personal items.
The highlight of the collection is a painting by Milton Avery titled Figure on the Jetty, with an estimated starting price between $500,000 and $700,000. Another standout piece is a painting by Richard Diebenkorn, estimated between $300,000 and $500,000. The auction will take place in three phases, one in person and two online. The first will be held on November 19 in New York, followed by one from November 8 to 21, and the final one from November 25 to December 4.
In addition to some of his paintings, Bonhams will also auction several of his scripts, posters, and everyday items that, according to the auction house, “offer an intimate portrait of Hackman’s private world.” The full catalog and sale terms are available on Bonhams’ website, where each lot includes photos and price estimates.
What happened to the actor and his wife?
Hackman died from cardiovascular disease. Although it’s difficult to determine the exact time of his death, it’s believed to have occurred on February 18, the day his pacemaker stopped recording any activity. The autopsy revealed severe heart disease, multiple heart attacks, chronic high blood pressure, and advanced Alzheimer’s.
Betsy is believed to have died around February 11, the last day anyone heard from her. In her case, death was caused by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease transmitted by infected rodents. It’s a very rare condition that animals can pass to humans. Symptoms usually include breathing difficulties and fluid buildup in the lungs, though it’s unknown whether the pianist experienced these complications.