Gene Hackman dies of cardiac arrest nearly a week after his wife

Gene Hackman died of heart problems nearly a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa , investigators said after days of puzzling over the death of the two-time Oscar-winning actor , who was found dead with his wife in their New Mexico home.

Hackman, 95, who suffered from Alzheimer's, stopped beating on February 17 , according to the pacemaker. Medical examiners did not use the word heart attack as the cause of death, but given the actor's past medical history, it is likely that they are leaning in that direction. Alzheimer's may have contributed to his death.

As for Arakawa, 65, her death was apparently caused by a disease transmitted by rat droppings and Hackman did not realize she had died for days.

(Online Union)