Gene Hackman’s main cause of death confirmed as heart disease

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home earlier this year (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

The main cause of Gene Hackman’s death was heart disease, but he was also in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and was likely to have not eaten for a long time, according to a new post-mortem examination report.

The report documents the 95-year-old actor’s poor heart health, noting he had experienced congestive heart failure, an aortic valve replacement and an irregular heartbeat. He was given a pacemaker in April 2019.