The will of renowned actor Gene Hackman has been disclosed, revealing complexities surrounding his $80 million estate. The two-time Oscar winner designated his entire fortune to his wife of three decades, Betsy Arakawa. Tragically, Arakawa, aged 65, was found deceased alongside Hackman in their New Mexico residence last month.
Legal specialists have indicated that since authorities reported Arakawa's death occurred seven days prior to Hackman's, his children might now be eligible to inherit, despite their exclusion from the will. Hackman's three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese—Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58—have not publicly addressed the situation.
Documents show Hackman, 95, named Arakawa as his sole heir in 1995, with the last amendment made in 2005. However, California lawyer Tre Lovell explained that the estate might default to his children under succession laws if no other beneficiary is named. He noted that they would need to demonstrate the will's invalidity due to Arakawa's earlier death.
Authorities reported that Arakawa succumbed to a rare virus on February 11, days before Hackman died of natural causes. The couple was discovered deceased in separate rooms of their $4 million Santa Fe home on February 26, after a welfare check by neighborhood security revealed their bodies through a window.
Arakawa was found in the bathroom with pills scattered nearby, while Hackman was located in another part of the house, dressed in sweatpants and slippers, with his cane and sunglasses nearby. Officials concluded he died a week after his wife from severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's as a contributing factor. Initially deemed "suspicious," the scene was later cleared of any foul play.
Arakawa's will had left her assets to Hackman, with a clause that if they died within 90 days of each other, her estate would be placed in a trust and eventually donated to charity after settling medical expenses.
Hackman had previously spoken about his relationship with his children, admitting to the challenges of balancing family life with his acting career. "You become very selfish as an actor," he told The New York Times in 1989. "Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time."
His children, who generally stayed out of the spotlight, occasionally joined him at red carpet events. In a 2000 interview, Hackman acknowledged the difficulties his children faced growing up with a famous parent. "It's tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity," he said. "I couldn't always be home with them when they were growing up, and then, living in California, they've had my success always hanging over their heads."
Following his passing, his daughters and granddaughter expressed their deep love for him. "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 shared. "We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."