Gene Hackman’s Will highlights the importance of clear estate planning

American actor, Gene Hackman, passed away in February 2025 at the age of 95. Hackman was a renowned, award-winning actor with a career spanning over four decades. He was best known for his work in Hoosiers, The French Connection, Superman, and The Royal Tenenbaums but has acting credits in over 100 films or TV shows, according to IMDB.

Details of Hackman’s Will have now been revealed leaving uncertainty around who will inherit his $80 million (£62 million) estate.

Gene Hackman’s Will left his entire estate to his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who also passed away in February 2025. This now rules his estate as intestate and provides uncertainty about who will inherit his multi-million-dollar estate. Although they were not named in the Will, it is now likely that Hackman’s three children, Christopher Allen Hackman, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, and Leslie Anne Hackman, will inherit under American intestacy rules. Hackman had his children with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who passed away in 2017 but they divorced back in 1986.

The circumstances surrounding Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths are rather strange as they were both found dead at the same time in their New Mexico home when neighbourhood security conducted a welfare check. Authorities have ruled out any foul play and have determined that Arakawa passed away seven days before Hackman on 11^th February 2025. Arakawa died after contracting a rare virus and was found in the bathroom. Hackman passed away on 18^th February 2025 and his cause of death has been ruled as natural causes due to him suffering from severe heart disease and advanced Alzheimer’s. Hackman was found in the back of the house in sweatpants and slippers with his cane and sunglasses beside him. Although the scene appeared suspicious, foul play has been ruled out and Hackman’s Alzheimer’s likely prevented him from notifying authorities of his wife’s death.

Hackman’s Will was created in 1995 and updated in 2005. It is believed to be his final Will and will now need to be proved as invalid as his wife, the sole beneficiary, passed away before him.

Betsy Arakawa’s Will also left her entire estate to Hackman. However, the Will stated that if they were to die within 90 days of each other, her estate would be put into a Trust and later donated to charity.

The importance of keeping an up-to-date and clear Will

It is common for a married couple to pass their estate to each other as the sole beneficiary, however, it is advisable to include wishes about who you would want to inherit your estate if your spouse or civil partner has already died.

Hackman’s Will had not been updated in approximately 20 years, so his wishes may have changed. General guidance is that you should review and ensure your Will is still up-to-date every five years. Certain life events should also trigger a review of your Will, such as getting married, having children, and buying a property.

Entering into a marriage or civil partnership will deem any previous Will invalid so you must update or create your Will afterwards. If you get married or enter a civil partnership and don’t update your Will, your estate will automatically pass solely to your spouse or civil partner.

In the case of Gene Hackman’s Will, mental capacity would come into question due to his health and age. Gene Hackman would likely have lacked the mental capacity to update or amend his Will. This also highlights the importance of ensuring a Lasting Power of Attorney is in place so a nominated loved one(s) can help you make decisions or make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. A Lasting Power of Attorney provides protection if you have an accident or illness that prevents you from making your own decisions, also known as lacking mental capacity.

Three key takeaways

• Create a Will with clearly outlined wishes of who you want to inherit your estate. If you want one sole beneficiary, outline what you would like to happen if they pass away;
• Create a Lasting Power of Attorney and nominate one or more of your loved ones to help make decisions on your behalf if an accident or illness prevents you from making them yourself;
• Regularly review and update your Will, especially if any major life changes occur.

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