Gene Hackman’s daughters were spotted grabbing a Denny’s breakfast a day after learning that their father and his wife had been found dead in their New Mexico compound.
Elizabeth Hackman and her sister Leslie were seen leaving the home they share in their gray SUV and walking into the all-day breakfast chain in Burbank, California, in exclusive Daily Mail.com photos.
The sisters did not appear noticeably upset. Despite the tragedy, they both appeared to be relatively upbeat.
This came after Leslie, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the family was waiting to hear from the authorities.
The 95-year-old actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead on Wednesday in separate rooms of their $3.8 million Santa Fe, New Mexico home. Authorities believe they had been dead for up to two weeks.
A workman called emergency services after discovering the bodies.
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. She and big sister Elizabeth had breakfast together Thursday
Gene Hackman with daughter Elizabeth and Leslie and wife Betsy at the premiere of his movie The Chamber in 1996
A German Shepherd was also found dead inside the house, according to Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who told TMZ police found two surviving dogs at the residence.
Leslie told DailyMail.com that the family is waiting to hear from law enforcement regarding the cause of death as the couple’s death remains a mystery.
The family issued a statement on Thursday afternoon expressing therir ‘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.’
Leslie and Elizabeth can only speculate that their father and stepmother may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak.
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
that she thinkss her father and stepmother may have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes
‘Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,’ Leslie said of her father Gene
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,’ she revealed, while adding that her father did not have any major surgeries these last few months.
‘He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.’
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.
The family is still waiting to hear from police exactly what happened and when the couple died. An affidavit in support of a search warrant revealed both bodies were found with signs of decomposition.
Gene and Betsy got married in 1991. 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.’
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
‘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.’
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.’
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’
Meanwhile, Gene’s nephew, Tim Hackman, also spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com on Thursday.
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.’
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
Betsy was ultimately the one who ‘took care of him.’
‘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.
‘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 couple’s 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.
In an interview with Empire in 2020, the retired actor revealed he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented. He said: ‘We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.
‘Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.’
