Gene Hackman’s long-time friend has spoken out for the first time since the Hollywood couple’s tragic death, and spoke of how Betsy kept Gene healthy in his twilight years
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s long-time friend has opened up about what the Hollywood couple’s marriage was really like.
The reclusive couple lived out their days together in their Santa Fe home, before they tragically passed away in February this year.
The latest press hearing took place on Friday (March 7) as police and medical professionals issues a huge update, suggesting that it was “quite possible that he was not aware that she was deceased.” Though the full police update can be found here .
Doctors have said that Gene “showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer’s disease” and may not have been able to survive without his wife.
Speak to the New York Times, 20 year friend Tom Allin said the couple were happy and Betsy was the one to “run things,” organising his medical appointments and keeping him fit and healthy.
He said that the actor “seemed happy” for his wife to “run things” while she organized his medical appointments and ensured he stayed as fit and healthy as possible.
“She was very protective of him,” Tom said, adding that Gene would have passed “long ago” without Betsy’s care.
“She just really looked after him,” he continued, sharing that the classical pianist even made sure to dilute his wine glass with soda water during his 90th birthday party.
Daniel Lenihan and his wife Barbara were also friends with the couple, and said: “Last time we saw them, they were alive and well. They were so delightful to be around. Probably never seen a couple that got along and enjoyed each other so much.”
They also said that Betsy was always encouraging Gene to keep fit, making him do yoga and other gentle exercises. Daniel said: “Betsy was a wonderful wife. They were very close, and she was a good cook and really, really took good care of him. They ate very well. He had had a triple bypass, maybe around 60 [years old], and he’d been in really good health since then, and I’m sure she was one of those factors.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
