The will of iconic actor Gene Hackman has been made public, yet questions remain regarding the distribution of his substantial $80 million (£62 million) estate.
The two-time Academy Award winner has bequeathed his entire estate to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, with whom he shared three decades of marriage. Last month, the bodies of Arakawa, 65, and her husband were discovered in their residence in New Mexico.
Legal experts have indicated that, according to authorities, Arakawa passed away seven days before her husband. This development raises the possibility that Hackman’s children could inherit his fortune, even though they were not mentioned in the will.
The three children of the late Faye Maltese, Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, have remained silent on the issue, refraining from any public comments.
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Documents acquired by the BBC reveal that Hackman, now 95, designated Arakawa as his sole beneficiary in 1995, with the most recent revision to the will occurring in 2005.
California attorney Tre Lovell informed the BBC that, under succession laws, the estate might default to them if no other beneficiary is designated.
“The estate is set to be probated under intestate succession laws, positioning the children as the rightful heirs,” he stated.
He stated that they would also need to demonstrate the will’s invalidity, as Arakawa passed away before Hackman.
Officials have confirmed that Arakawa died on February 11 after being infected with a rare virus, just days before Hackman’s death from natural causes.
Authorities discovered the bodies of a couple in separate rooms of their $4 million Santa Fe residence on February 26. The grim finding followed a welfare check by neighbourhood security, who observed the deceased through a window.
Arakawa was discovered in the bathroom, surrounded by scattered pills. At the same time, Hackman was located at the rear of the house, dressed in sweatpants and slippers, with his cane and sunglasses positioned beside him.
Authorities have confirmed that he passed away seven days following the death of his wife, attributing his demise to severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease noted as a contributing factor.
Initially, authorities classified the scene as “suspicious,” but subsequent investigations led them to rule out foul play.
Arakawa’s will designated her assets to Hackman, stipulating that should they both pass away within 90 days of one another, her estate would be placed into a trust. This trust would subsequently fund medical expenses before being allocated to charity.
Hackman has previously addressed his relationship with his children.
In a candid interview with The New York Times 1989, he remarked, “You become very selfish as an actor.” Despite having a family, I accepted positions requiring me to be away for three to four months. While Hackman’s children tend to stay out of the spotlight, they have been spotted accompanying him at red-carpet events from time to time.
In a recent interview, Hackman discussed his children’s challenges while growing up with a parent who was frequently under public scrutiny.
In an interview with The Irish Independent in 2000, he remarked on the challenges faced by the children of celebrities. “During their formative years, I was not always present at home, and now, residing in California, my achievements have consistently loomed large in their lives.”
Following his death, his daughters and granddaughter conveyed their profound love and admiration for him.
“He garnered love and admiration from millions globally for his remarkable acting career, yet to us, he remained simply Dad and Grandpa,” they expressed. “His absence will be deeply felt, leaving us in profound sorrow.”
