Gene Hackman was reduced to a ‘frail’ 160lbs ghost of his former self in final days, insiders reveal

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Hollywood legend Gene Hackman lived his last days as a reclusive shell of the powerhouse he once was—so much so that fans barely recognized him when he did step out in public.

The once-rugged star of 'The French Connection' and 'Unforgiven' had become noticeably frail—and his reported decline became all too real on Wednesday, February 26, when Hackman, 95, was found dead inside his New Mexico home alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their beloved dog.

The investigation into their deaths remains ongoing.

Gene Hackman became a ghost of his former self

Gene Hackman had all but disappeared from the public eye in the years before his death, living a secluded life on his 12-acre ranch in Santa Fe. But it was a heartbreaking sight when he was spotted out and about in one of his final appearances.

The once 6-foot-2-inch, broad-shouldered leading man had reportedly dwindled to a gaunt 160 pounds, his body frail and hunched over. His snow-white hair was long and unkempt, and his clothes hung off his thinning frame.

An eyewitness described his skin to Radar Online as looking “pale and withered,” while another source noted, "He's extremely gaunt and frail, and grizzled like he doesn’t care to groom much, and he has a stooped walk."

Health expert Dr Gabe Mirkin, who has not treated Hackman, also weighed in: "He's lost a significant amount of weight in recent years, so his clothes don't fit right and just hang off him."

It was a far cry from the Hollywood heavyweight who once maintained a solid 190-pound physique.

A life of isolation

Gene Hackman tried to maintain some semblance of independence despite his declining health. On that rare public outing, he was spotted running errands, even making a stop at a Wendy’s drive-thru for a quick bite before heading back to the ranch he shared with Arakawa and their pets.

However, those close to him revealed that his reclusive lifestyle had taken a toll. The Oscar winner, who left Hollywood behind in 2004 after starring in 'Welcome to Mooseport', had gradually withdrawn from socializing and sought solitude on his ranch instead.

An insider shared, "He seems sad and lonely and doesn’t socialize, and it’s odd that he’s doing his own yard work. He’s pushing himself too hard by the looks of it."

Hackman had previously opened up about his decision to step away from acting, admitting that a stress test in New York was the wake-up call he needed.

"The straw that broke the camel's back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress," he said.

After retiring, Hackman found solace in painting and once enjoyed riding his electric bike around the neighborhood—but even that had become a struggle in his later years. "He does his art and some minor fixes on the ranch but tends to shun people nowadays. He likes his solitude," the source revealed.

The end of a legend

Paparazzi had last caught a glimpse of Gene Hackman in 2019. Sources at the time said he was still in relatively good spirits. "He looked a little grizzled but in good shape," one insider noted.

However, the changes were undeniable in his final years.

Fans who had admired his towering presence as Lex Luthor in 'Superman' or his commanding performance in 'The Royal Tenenbaums' were stunned by his decline. The man who once dominated the silver screen had become a quiet, almost invisible figure in his own life.

Having said that, questions still remain in the wake of Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths.

Their bodies were found in separate rooms, with pills reportedly discovered in the bathroom near Arakawa. An investigation is underway, and the exact cause of death has yet to be established.