[Old School Hound]

Really, really strange...  Have you all kept up with this story. Hackman, 95, and his wife and dog were found dead in their home. They had apparently been dead about a week when they were found. The investigation continues. Do you have any thoughts on what might have happened???   Hackman was one of, if not my favorite actor of sll time. I first got to know him whem mom took my sis and I to the Drive-In back in the early 70's to see "The Poseidon Adventure." We would usually watch the cartoons that would be shown prior to the movie starting and then curl up in the back seat and go to sleep, not remembering a thing about the movie. But I stayed awake for the entire movie about the doomed ocean liner. Hackman played a preacher, who tried to lead a handful of survivors to their rescue. He was terrific.  RIP, Mr Hackman.


Any ideas on the bizarre death of Gene and his wife AND dog ???

[Granny Bear]

Like you, Hackman was one of my all time favorite actors. I've read a lot and thought a lot about this. but I ain't got a clue. I felt sure it was carbon monoxide because of the dog, but the latest I read says they believe the dog died of dehydration and both bodies were negative for carbon monoxide. The dog was in a kennel, and the Hackmans are believed to have been dead for 9 days. Mummification of their hands? Curious.

[Old School Hound]

Gene's dying words on the doomed SS Poseidon. Man, oh man, was this guy some kind of actor!!!

[plantmanky]

Did they find out who killed him yet?

[Granny Bear]

Go get a frosty!!

[plantmanky]

I guess people being murdered is funny to some on here.

[Granny Bear]

After reading the autopsy and investigation reports, I almost wish it had been murder!

Apparently Mrs. Hackman died a week before Mr. Hackman, of hantavirus. Mr. Hackman was so advanced in Alzheimer's that he didn't know how to feed himself. There was no evidence of food in his alimentary canal. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance probably caused his heart attack. Same with the dog. It bothers me very much to think he starved to death because of his mental state. All his fame and money and he didn't know how to eat by himself. So incredibly sad!!!!

[Old School Hound]

After reading the autopsy and investigation reports, I almost wish it had been murder!

Apparently Mrs. Hackman died a week before Mr. Hackman, of hantavirus.  Mr. Hackman was so advanced in Alzheimer's that he didn't know how to feed himself.  There was no evidence of food in his alimentary canal.  Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance probably caused his heart attack.  Same with the dog.  It bothers me very much to think he starved to death because of his mental state.  All his fame and money and he didn't know how to eat by himself.  So incredibly sad!!!!

I was getting ready to post pretty much what you said Granny. A sad situation just got even more incredibly sad. His wife died around the 11th and Gene expired on the 18th. His wife died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Gene and the dog  essentially died from starvation and dehydration. Gene's dementia was so progressed that he wasn't able to feed himself(or the poor dog), and this likely brought on heart failure. This is an INCREDIBLY sad story. To think that this poor man wandered aimlessly around that house for a week unable to feed himself. And that poor dog, too. Makes me tear up just thinking about it.

[Granny Bear]

I really DID tear up. I've taken care of a few folks in my extended family that had Alzheimer's or dementia. They are very child like. It really bothers me to know how famous Hackman was, yet didn't have anybody in his life that would check on him in a two week span. It's truly heartbreaking.

[Jarons]

After reading the autopsy and investigation reports, I almost wish it had been murder!

Apparently Mrs. Hackman died a week before Mr. Hackman, of hantavirus.  Mr. Hackman was so advanced in Alzheimer's that he didn't know how to feed himself.  There was no evidence of food in his alimentary canal.  Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance probably caused his heart attack.  Same with the dog.  It bothers me very much to think he starved to death because of his mental state.  All his fame and money and he didn't know how to eat by himself.  So incredibly sad!!!!

I was getting ready to post pretty much what you said Granny. A sad situation just got even more incredibly sad. His wife died around the 11th and Gene expired on the 18th. His wife died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Gene and the dog  essentially died from starvation and dehydration. Gene's dementia was so progressed that he wasn't able to feed himself(or the poor dog), and this likely brought on heart failure. This is an INCREDIBLY sad story.  To think that this poor man wandered aimlessly around that house for a week unable to feed himself. And that poor dog, too. Makes me tear up just thinking about it.

Does Hackman have kids? Where were they during this time? If he had kids and knowing his condition, they never called or stop by if they live close? That seems very odd if they have kids.

[Granny Bear]

IF I'm remembering correctly, he had a daughter who lived in California. They corresponded every month or so. But as advanced as his condition was, I doubt he would've known how to answer a phone call by himself. The more I read about this, the sadder it becomes.

[Old School Hound]

I really DID tear up.  I've taken care of a few folks in my extended family that had Alzheimer's or dementia.  They are very child like.  It really bothers me to know how famous Hackman was, yet didn't have anybody in his life that would check on him in a two week span.  It's truly heartbreaking.

That was my thought, too. Why didn't someone check on him? I guess his wife/caretaker was all he had. Once, one of the best known actors in the world, he became old, and sick, and slipped away into irrelevance... and , at the end, no one cared. Terrible.