Medical reports have suggested that Gene Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infectious disease.
This was confirmed by a medical examiner, after the actor and his wife were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico last month, along with their dog.
At the time, it was confirmed that an investigation into the couple's deaths would be carried out.
According to the chief medical examiner, Dr Heather Jarrell, two time Oscar winner, Hackman had died on February 18, of "hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributory factor".
She also stated that his wife Betsy Aarakawa died of the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, adding that it was "reasonable to conclude" that Ms Arakawa who was 64 years old, died of this disease on February 11, a week prior to her husband's death.
Having been reportedly very active in the community, the couple were seen less often in town, as Mr Hackman's health declined. The sheriff's office also said that a pathologist had determined the last signal from Hackman's pacemaker was from 17 February, making it likely to have been the last day of his life.
Speaking at this year's Oscars ceremony, Morgan Freeman, a close friend of Hackman's, paid tribute to the actor. Check that out here.
