Shocking Secrets Revealed in Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Wills

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa only had eyes for one another.

The strong affection they shared was evident in their estate planning, with the two-time Oscar winner, together with his spouse and one of their dogs, who were tragically found deceased within their home on February 26th, designating only his wife as the beneficiary in his will, while excluding his three grown children – a decision confirmed by documents acquired by People.

In a similar manner, Arakawa’s estate, similarly acquired through her will, primarily allocated most of her possessions to Hackman. The pair, who tied the knot in 1991, both signed their wills on the same day in June 2005, and designated each other as the main beneficiary of their individual estates, as reported by People.

It appears that both individuals had arranged plans considering the possibility they might outlive their spouses. Interestingly, their wills named attorney Michael G. Sutin as the first choice to serve as personal representative for their estates. However, according to reports, Sutin – a lawyer from Santa Fe – passed away in 2019, as confirmed by an online obituary.

In the unfortunate event of their demise, Hackman and Arakawa had designated Julia L. Peters as their secondary executor for managing their estates. Court documents accompanying Hackman’s will reveal that Peters named Christopher Allen Hackman (65), Elizabeth Jean Hackman (62), and Leslie Ann Hackman (58) – the actor’s children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese – as his inheritors, according to the report.

According to TMZ, Arakawa’s will states that if she and Hackman pass away within a 90-day span, their deaths will be considered simultaneous. In this case, her assets would be donated to charity.

After investigating the situation, it was announced by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza at a March 7 press conference that Arakawa, aged 65, likely died on or around February 11 due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman, who was 95 and suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s, is thought to have passed away approximately one week later on February 18 as a result of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to officials.

Keep reading for a look at Hackman’s life in photos.

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2025-03-15 00:50