Gene Hackman’s handwritten notes to wife found in their home after their sudden deaths
A bunch of handwritten notes were found in Gene Hackman’s New Mexico home, giving a touching look into the loving relationship he had with his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
Local authorities released some personal letters that they discovered amid the investigation into their sudden deaths in February.
In the notes shared by The Sun, Hackman often referred to Arakawa as her "lovely girl" and usually ended his messages with "Love, G."
"Morning, lovely girl. [I am] thinking of you and the other little guys. Love G," one read.
In another, Hackman apologized to Betsy for needing her help with making dinner.
"Good morning. Happy few days after your birthday. I'm still sorry about the dinner and that I had to ask for your help—though I appreciated it," Hackman wrote.
According to authorities, it looks like the actor used the notes to let Arakawa know when he was going out to run errands.
The letters are among the documents collected by local investigators. There was also new body camera footage taken in their residence.
The couple was found dead inside their residential home in late February. Hackman died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is caused by "plaque buildup in arterial walls."
Arakawa, meanwhile, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. "Hantavirus is transmitted to human beings through “inhalation of the virus with close contact of rodents, or touching or in contact with infected urine or waste of these rodents," infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante previously told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Recent reports also said that nests and dead rodents were found in the outbuildings of their property.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was credited for intense performances of everyman characters inspired by his troubled upbringing, notching up dozens of movie credits extending into his 70s.
He is perhaps best known as vulgar New York cop Jimmy Popeye Doyle in the 1971 crime thriller The French Connection, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor.
He also earned three more Oscar nominations during a five-decade career in which he appeared in 80-odd films.
