RIP Gene Hackman

[drusselmeyer]

Me, just realizing that nearly every single cast member from the 1978 Superman film are now all dead....and slowly seeing all the greats from the 70s and 80s all going.

Are you sure? Valerie Perrine, Terance Stamp, Aaron Smolinski and Sarah Douglas are all still alive. Smolinski played one of the younger Clarks and was also in Man of Steel.

Btw, Smolinski is the only actor to have played both Clark Kent and Lex Luthor.

 

[JediMichael]

Are you sure? Valerie Perrine, Terance Stamp, Aaron Smolinski and Sarah Douglas are all still alive. Smolinski played one of the younger Clarks and was also in Man of Steel.

Why I said nearly all....
Marlon Brando
Gene Hackman
Christopher Reeve
Ned Beatty
Margot Kidder
and more.

Those being the bigger names of the film.
In time, they'll all be gone of course.

 

[George]

Rest in Peace, Mr.Hackman

 

[The Terminator]

Why I said nearly all....
Marlon Brando
Gene Hackman
Christopher Reeve
Ned Beatty
Margot Kidder
and more.

Those being the bigger names of the film.
In time, they'll all be gone of course.

And the big man himself Dick Donner.

 

[Bloop]

Certainly mysterious deaths. I know we shouldn't speculate too much as the investigation needs time to try to figure it out. But I'm curious if any toxicology reports come out on them, as there were reportedly an open prescription bottle and pills scattered around the bathroom near where Arakawa's body was found.

It seems to me that it could be that one of them died suddenly/accidentally and that impacted how the other died. Figuring out which of them died first and how much time passed between deaths seems to be a key to piecing things together. The fact that no one called 911 for help is odd and could have some impact on determining the timeline.

Again, I probably shouldn't be speculating this much. We'll just have to wait until any other information is released.

 

[TazMan2000]

But speculate is what theRPF does best!

TazMan2000

 

[mattycsi]

Certainly mysterious deaths. I know we shouldn't speculate too much as the investigation needs time to try to figure it out. But I'm curious if any toxicology reports come out on them, as there were reportedly an open prescription bottle and pills scattered around the bathroom near where Arakawa's body was found.

It seems to me that it could be that one of them died suddenly/accidentally and that impacted how the other died. Figuring out which of them died first and how much time passed between deaths seems to be a key to piecing things together. The fact that no one called 911 for help is odd and could have some impact on determining the timeline.

Again, I probably shouldn't be speculating this much. We'll just have to wait until any other information is released.

There should be tox reports, they're fairly standard in post mortem exams, in the UK anyway. They do tend to take a little while though.
Its very difficult to age/time deaths, ballpark figures at best. That said, talk of her being mummified and not him does suggest she's been away a good bit longer.
I've investigated loads of deaths like this and my gut went straight to the same theory that you posited.

 

[Moviefreak]

There should be tox reports, they're fairly standard in post mortem exams, in the UK anyway. They do tend to take a little while though.
Its very difficult to age/time deaths, ballpark figures at best. That said, talk of her being mummified and not him does suggest she's been away a good bit longer.
I've investigated loads of deaths like this and my gut went straight to the same theory that you posited.

The main issue with the theory that his wife was feeling depressed and took an overdose of pills is that it wouldn't have been sudden enough for her to fall with the bottle still in hand. The heater on the floor was reportedly knocked down when she fell, which doesn't align with the idea of an intentional overdose. If she had taken the pills, they would have taken a few minutes to half an hour to take effect. She likely would have gone to lie down and wait for sleep to take over. My initial thought was that she found Gene unconscious on the floor, rushed to grab his pills, and either fell and was knocked unconscious, or suffered a heart attack due to the stress, collapsing as she reached for the pills. I'm sure we'll get answers soon.

 

[mattycsi]

The main issue with the theory that his wife was feeling depressed and took an overdose of pills is that it wouldn't have been sudden enough for her to fall with the bottle still in hand. The heater on the floor was reportedly knocked down when she fell, which doesn't align with the idea of an intentional overdose. If she had taken the pills, they would have taken a few minutes to half an hour to take effect. She likely would have gone to lie down and wait for sleep to take over. My initial thought was that she found Gene unconscious on the floor, rushed to grab his pills, and either fell and was knocked unconscious, or suffered a heart attack due to the stress, collapsing as she reached for the pills. I'm sure we'll get answers soon.

I never though intentional overdose, I figured that was more her having an episode and going for her medication.
Your theory is also entirely possible.

 

[Treadwell]

These last couple of theories don't account for the death of the dog. It would've been malnourished, but as long as it could get to toilets it would've had water for days.

 

[mattycsi]

It was apparently caged or secured in a closet.
I've read both.
Tthe other 2 dogs survived as they were free, so presumably had access to water. Possibly food too as, from experience, they eat the deceased when no food gets put out. From the possible length of time they'd been deceased there wouldn't be much left if the dogs had gone at them.

 

[mattycsi]

These last couple of theories don't account for the death of the dog. It would've been malnourished, but as long as it could get to toilets it would've had water for days.

There are statements that the wife had become mummified, thats weeks not days.

 

[DarkKnightRyan]

You have to remember that they lived in New Mexico, it can be very, very dry there, so deceased bodies start to dry out faster than decomposing.

 

[mattycsi]

You have to remember that they lived in New Mexico, it can be very, very dry there, so deceased bodies start to dry out faster than decomposing.

Thats what mummification is, when conditions don't support bacteria etc to break the tissue down the skin dries out and becomes leathery. Hot and dry conditions are perfect for that. It is still a weeks or months long process though.

 

[DarkKnightRyan]

A Swedish study of 102 forensic autopsy cases found that parchment-like skin was seen as early as three days postmortem and leathery desiccated skin could appear within six days of death. The entire body could show evidence of mummification within 18 days of death. They estimated that Hackman passed around February 17th and discovered the 26th, being as old as they were, their skin was undoubtable thinner with not much muscle underneath, so I would guess it sped up the process sooner factoring in the dryer climate and all

 

[Malibu139]

I read his pacemaker stopped on Feb17 and they said it’s a good assumption that’s when he passed . That’s nine days.

 

[mattycsi]

A Swedish study of 102 forensic autopsy cases found that parchment-like skin was seen as early as three days postmortem and leathery desiccated skin could appear within six days of death. The entire body could show evidence of mummification within 18 days of death. They estimated that Hackman passed around February 17th and discovered the 26th, being as old as they were, their skin was undoubtable thinner with not much muscle underneath, so I would guess it sped up the process sooner factoring in the dryer climate and all

Interesting.
I hadn't read that they had an estimated ToD of the 17th (ish). It does state, started to mummify, so that works in the time frame.

Has there been any mention of what the estimate is based on?

 

[DarkKnightRyan]

Gene had a pacemaker and it's last recorded activity was February 17th, their was a whole press conference on it

 

[drusselmeyer]

The door was open, so it is unlikely that a gas leak could have been the cause unless a housekeeper opened the door.

We are not likely to get all the answers very soon. If there was a housekeeper, (there usually is) then there was no good reason for their deaths to be unreported for more than a week.

The dog, found unrestrained, laying on the floor would indicate something like a gas leak, but would be nearly impossible with an open door.

It is difficult to know what is no longer in the house that was so important.

 

[Moviefreak]

They just announced on a radio show that the police and the medical pathologist have released their timeline. Gene experienced a heart episode and his wife went to grab his pills after she found him on the floor. She slipped and hit her head and passed away, and he laid waiting on her until he passed away. They said they determined his wife's time of death was prior to his passing. The dog was restrained in the closet, and passed away from lack of food and water.