The nation was left in shock when news broke that Gene Hackman’s daughters were spotted cheerfully heading out for breakfast at Denny’s just a day after the tragic discovery of their father and stepmother’s lifeless bodies. The juxtaposition of their seemingly carefree demeanor against the backdrop of such a devastating loss has ignited a firestorm of speculation and controversy, leading many to question the motives behind their unexpected outing.

Witnesses reported seeing the sisters laughing and chatting animatedly as they entered the diner, an image that starkly contrasts with the somber events that had unfolded just hours prior. This sighting has raised eyebrows and fueled rampant rumors that the daughters may be celebrating their newfound freedom from their stepmother, potentially set to inherit millions from their father’s estate. Social media has erupted with theories, with some users suggesting that their jovial behavior hints at a deeper, more sinister undertone, as if they were relieved to be liberated from what they perceived as a toxic family dynamic.

As the public grapples with the shocking images of the daughters enjoying a casual breakfast in the wake of such a tragedy, questions swirl about the nature of their relationship with their father and stepmother. Did unresolved tensions exist beneath the surface, and could these have played a role in the family’s tragic circumstances? The timing of their outing raises further suspicions, leading many to wonder if they might have been planning their next steps regarding the inheritance, a thought that adds an unsettling layer to an already complex narrative.

As investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the deaths, the daughters’ behavior has become a focal point in the media, drawing both criticism and intrigue. The nation watches closely, eager for more details about the Hackman family’s private struggles and the implications of this shocking tragedy, hoping to uncover the truth behind the smiles that seemed so out of place in the wake of such sorrow.

 

Gene Hackman‘s daughters were spotted out and about a day after learning of their father’s death – with one admitting they had not spoken to him in months.

The Hollywood legend, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found partially mummified in two different rooms of their $3.3million mansion in Santa Fe on Wednesday afternoon.

No cause of death has been revealed but a new theory suggests Hackman may have had a sudden fall as his sunglasses and walking cane were found next to his body.

Authorities have concluded autopsies on each of the couple’s bodies and revealed no external trauma was seen on either.

While the autopsies were completed early on Thursday morning, authorities are still waiting on the full results, along with a toxicology report, and no further details have been released.

Now photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show Hackman’s daughters Elizabeth and Leslie walking into a Denny’s restaurant on Thursday.

The sisters, who claimed their ‘reclusive’ father had been in good shape before his death, seemed to be coping well and even managed to raise a smile as they left the diner.

Elizabeth and Leslie were seen getting out of their gray SUV together and walking into the branch of the all-day breakfast chain in Burbank, California.

Leslie said on Thursday in an interview with DailyMail.com that the family was still waiting to hear about their father’s cause of death and was still processing what had happened.

Film icon Gene Hackman and wife found dead in New Mexico home

Elizabeth Hackman and her sister Leslie were seen getting out of their gray SUV together to walk inside the all-day breakfast chain Denny’s grabbing breakfast at Denny’s in Burbank

Leslie (left) told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the family was waiting to hear from the authorities

Gene Hackman with daughter Elizabeth and Leslie and wife Betsy at the premiere of his movie The Chamber in 1996

Hackman’s 59-year-old daughter said that ‘there was no indication that there was any problem’ with her father prior to his death.

‘Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,’ Leslie revealed, while adding that her father did not have any major surgeries these last few months.

Leslie and Elizabeth speculated that their father and stepmother may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak.

But Santa Fe City Fire personnel and the New Mexico Gas Company tested the couple’s home for carbon monoxide and other foreign elements after their bodies were found, and concluded the area was safe.

Leslie said her father had been ‘in good health’ in the lead up to his death, revealing that ‘he liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week.’

She went on to say that his death, however, was ‘not terribly shocking because he was 95.’

As she lives in California, she said it’s been a ‘few months’ since she had last seen or even heard from her reclusive father despite them being close.

‘We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,’ she shared.

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The sisters appeared to be smiling after the had a meal at the all-day breakfast joint with Leslie carrying out a bag of leftovers

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Santa Fe mansion on Wednesday

Elizabeth’s face held a slight grin as she listened to her sister Leslie speak

The Denny’s restaurant that Hackman’s two daughters were seen at on Thursday

Leslie, 59, said that the family is still processing what happened since ‘there was no indication that there was any problem’ with her father prior to his death

‘Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,’ Leslie said of her father Gene

 Leslie said that she’ll be heading to New Mexico once she hears back from police.

‘We need to wait and find out whatever information from the police. We weren’t expecting to have to go out there and go through the house and all that,’ she shared.

‘So we have some work cut out for us. But yeah, we’ll be going out to New Mexico.’

The family issued a statement on Thursday afternoon expressing their ‘great sadness’ at Hackman’s passing.

‘He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career,’ the family continued. ‘But to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa.

‘We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.’

The family is still waiting to hear from police exactly what happened and when the couple died.

Their bodies were discovered by two maintenance workers called Roland Lowe Begay and Jesse Kesler, who told investigators they hadn’t seen the couple for two weeks.

The identities of Hackman and Arakawa were not released for nearly 12 hours, with details of how they were found now offering a possible explanation for the delay.

Gene Hackman and Barbra Streisand star in ‘All Night Long’

A detective noted in the search warrant that ‘the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.’

Arakawa was discovered lying on the bathroom floor of the couple’s home on her right side, with an open prescription bottle of pills scattered across a nearby countertop.

No indication has been given as to what the pills were and whether they had been prescribed to Hackman or his wife.

In the 911 call made after the harrowing discovery, a frantic male caller is heard telling the dispatcher that he has found two bodies which are not moving while pleading for help.

TMZ reported that the caller, whose identity was redacted, was emotional and repeatedly exclaimed ‘Damn’ while sniffing away tears.

An affidavit in support of a search warrant revealed both bodies were found with signs of decomposition and were partially mummified.

Investigators fear Hackman and Arakawa may have lain dead in the house for up to two weeks.

Gene and daughter Elizabeth in March 1979 in Beverly Hills, California

The Hollywood legend, 95, had been with Betsy Arakawa, more than 30 years his junior, since 1991

Gene and Betsy had been married for more than three decades after meeting in the 1980s and getting married in 1991, shortly after they moved to New Mexico together.

The Superman star was previously married to bank clerk Faye Maltese from 1956 to 1986. They shared three children together – Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie.

Leslie told DailyMail.com that Gene and Betsy had ‘a wonderful marriage.’

‘I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive,’ she said.

‘[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health.

‘So I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.’

Gene’s close friend and former business partner, Doug Lanham, told TMZ that Betsy placed the Hollywood icon on a strict, healthy diet, and closely monitored Gene’s eating habits.

Gene allegedly only managed to ‘sneak a cheat meal’ when he was out golfing with Lanham.

Meanwhile, Gene’s nephew, Tim Hackman, also spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com on Thursday.

Gene and his children during the premiere of Superman in Washington, D.C in December 1978

In October 1996, Elizabeth and Leslie were photographed with their father at the premiere of The Chamber in Beverly Hills

Leslie told DailyMail.com that her father was in great shape before his death and ‘liked to do Pilates and yoga’

He revealed that he and his family had found out about his uncle and Betsy’s death through Leslie – who he claims was the family member who had the most contact with Gene and Betsy – before the news broke.

Tim, 51, said that he found out on Wednesday night and was saddened to learn that Gene didn’t have a natural death.

‘I mean, he was old. I’m sure he had some [health] concerns, but nothing that was shared,’ he replied when asked if his uncle had any major health concerns.

Tim’s mom Barbara Hackman was married to Gene’s brother, Richard, a stuntman who died 11 years ago.

The last time Tim saw Gene was at his father’s funeral, he revealed.

Santa Fe County deputies were photographed outside of Betsy and Gene’s home in Santa Fe on Thursday as they continue to investigate the cause of death

Leslie and Elizabeth have speculated that their father and stepmother may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak

‘Eleven years ago was the last time I physically saw him. He only came to California during the warm weather, and then he just stayed in New Mexico.’

Although it’s been over a decade, Hackman said that the Bonnie and Clyde star was not ‘estranged’ from his family.

‘He liked New Mexico. He loved it. It’s a beautiful place,’ he told DailyMail.com.

Most of his communication to his uncle was through Betsy, who he would talk to ‘every once in a while’ since Gene was ‘at the age where he wasn’t really communicative a lot with the family’.

He continued, ‘I was just basically giving her updates on my kids and how they were doing and how I was doing because our major connection was the military background, but that was it really.

‘She’d just always say, “Oh, [Gene’s] doing good.” I mean, he was moving around a lot for 95.’

Betsy was ultimately the one who ‘took care of him,’ he said.

‘I truly believe he made it as long as he did because of her,’ Tim insisted.

Given Betsy and Gene’s 31-year age difference, the family had ‘prepared’ that the actor would pass away first and that his wife would take over funeral arrangements.

After the couple’s shocking death, Tim said that the plan has obviously changed.

Hackman played Buck Barrow in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde while Warren Beatty played his brother Clyde and Faye Dunaway was Bonnie Parker

Hackman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection

‘Now this significantly changes things. I have no idea what – I’m assuming one of his kids will probably take over – and plan.

‘I don’t know. It’s still very, very early.’

Last year, Hackman and Arakawa were seen out and about for the first time together in two decades.

The actor was spotted holding on to his wife’s arm for balance as they grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.

Before the dinner date, Hackman enjoyed a cup of coffee and apple pie from a local Speedway store.

The notoriously private couple would regularly schedule in date nights, often watching DVDs rented by Arakawa.

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The couple’s 2024 outing marked the first time they were seen together in public since the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille award.

The Academy Awards are taking place on March 2, 2025 – and now, the team behind the Oscars are trying to put together a fitting tribute in time for Hollywood’s big night.

A source exclusively told DailyMail.com, ‘The Oscars are scrambling to pull together an in memoriam tribute to Gene Hackman in time.’

‘Of course the awards plan to pay tribute to him,’ the source explained, noting the fact he was an Oscar winner.

The famed actor won an Academy Award for his role in The French Connection, as well as a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.