Gene Hackman's wife died of a rare virus that few had heard of before a major update in the case this week ... and TMZ has learned she had about a week after contracting Hantavirus before it quickly became fatal.
Here is the deal ... Santa Fe authorities on Friday shared the shocking revelation that Betsy Arakawa likely died a week before Gene -- and it was the rare virus speared by rats and mice that killed her.
Santa Fe County Sheriff
Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious disease expert and professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, tells TMZ ... Hantavirus impacts the body fast – and since symptoms present themselves as a chest cold -- and the virus is so rare -- it is often misdiagnosed.
Brandi Glanville provided a recent update to her fans on her health problems -- and it ain't pretty.
The former 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star took to X on Thursday and wrote that she's "f***ing miserable" because her face is literally melting away. She added that she can't fake it anymore ... her face is worse than ever!
In her latest X post, Brandi says she was getting better and looking normal after doctors prescribed her antibiotics and other medications.
Machine Gun Kelly is still reeling from the death of his best bud, snowboarding star Luke "The Dingo" Trembath.
MGK poured his heart out Friday night in a lengthy Instagram post, in which he said he wasn't even this rocked when his father died ... but Luke was super special.
"I’ve lost a lot of friends, but I've never lost a brother ... We’ll never get another Dingo on this planet. A true rockstar without ever needing to make a song. The most loyal, loud, charismatic, funny, and annoying human I've ever had the honor of knowing," MGK lamented.
Diddy's parties were legendary in Hollywood circles, and he looked like the king of the world in video from his 2010 New Year's party ... footage of which TMZ has just obtained.
The rapper hosted a soirée in Miami, Florida on December 31, 2009 to ring in the new decade ... and, video from the event serves as a reminder of just how popular all his bashes were.
Check out the clip ... the party is going down at a beautiful mansion with a massive pool in the backyard -- and tons of people gathered around Diddy, who's speaking to the assembled group through a P.A. system.
Reality star Jessa Duggar Seewald has already pumped out 5 children -- but now she's got a sixth on the way and couldn't be happier!
Jessa jumped on Instagram Friday and posted 3 sonogram photos, showing her sixth bundle of joy growing inside her belly. In the caption, Jessa wrote, "Halfway to holding you in our arms! 💞."
Jessa did not reveal the baby's gender, nor would she say exactly when the little one would make its grand entrance into the world.
Anna Kendrick doesn't seem too enthusiastic about her costar Blake Lively ... 'cause while Blake said working with Anna was "the best," Anna's response came off much more lukewarm.
The two stars pulled up to the popular film and music festival South by Southwest Friday to promote their new movie "Another Simple Favor" -- the sequel to the hit 2018 flick "A Simple Favor."
Fans and reporters lined the street to get selfies and autographs ... and, while Blake had nothing but compliments for her costar, Anna didn't have the same for Blake.
Emily Osment is splitting from her husband Jack Farina ... and, while many would expect them to still be in the honeymoon phase, it looks like she decided five months is more than enough.
The actress beelined it to court Friday to file for divorce from Farina -- better known by his stage name Jack Anthony ... citing the boilerplate irreconcilable differences.
They got married on October 12, 2024 -- so they would've celebrated five months together next week ... but, it looks like they decided it just wasn't working out. She lists the date of separation on December 7, 2024 … less than two months after the marriage.
Gene Hackman died a full week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died and lived in the house as her body lay in the bathroom ... this according to New Mexico officials.
New Mexico officials concluded Betsy likely died February 11, and the cause of death was Hantavirus ... a serious and rare disease which can be fatal.
Gene died February 18. An autopsy revealed the 95-year-old had a history of cardiovascular disease, along with advanced Alzheimer's. He had a history of heart attacks and high blood pressure. Although the medical investigators did not use the words "heart attack," it seemed they were going in that direction, although the medical investigator said she could not squarely say that was the cause. They did say heart disease was the cause of death, and Alzheimer's was a significant contributing factor.
The Sheriff says it appears Betsy's body was in the house for a week while Gene lived in the same house until his death a week later. Investigators made it clear ... Gene was in poor health and the Alzheimer's may have created confusion, which could explain why he never called authorities.
It's International Women's Day and to honor this year's theme: "Accelerate Action," we've taken action here at TMZ and assembled the Hollywood hustlers who highlight the strength of women and empower females on the daily with their brands and businesses💪!
Puttin' in that worrrrk, Bella Hadid,Hailey Bieber and Vanessa Hudgens are rollin' deep with their thriving businesses: Orebella, Rhode Skin andCaliwater.
Business babes like Alex Cooper have brought light to hangovers, workouts and traveling with her hydrating electrolyte drink Unwell and Emma Chamberlain has also dipped into the beverage space with Chamberlain Coffee, which sells cold brew, matcha and more!
You've obvi seen the Kardashian-Jenner sisters giving curves with their sexy selfies, but their mega-successful brands are what's droppin' jaws today! The famous sisters -- Kendall, Kim, Kylie, Kourtney and Khloe have boosted the economy with their respective brands.
Shout out to all you girl bosses out there ... and in the words of Kris Jenner, "You're doing amazing sweetie!"
Ride into our female-driven photo gallery and see all the lovely ladies serving up total boss vibes!
Big Boom A.J. is ready to bring the BOOM this Sunday at AEW Revolution in Los Angeles ... but the future might belong to Big Justice, 'cause he tells TMZ Sports he could be a world champion one day!!
The father-son duo rolled through our office before Big Boom AJ joins forces with Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe to take on Johnny TV and MxM Collection ... and the younger half of the Costco guys threw out his goals in wrestling.
"Maybe one day I will be AEW World Champion," he said.
Angie Stone's friends and family will have multiple opportunities to celebrate her historic life ... multiple services are planned for the legend -- and, the guest lists of both are star-studded.
The singer-songwriter will be honored in two separate ceremonies ... one onFriday, March 14 in Atlanta and another the following day in Columbia, South Carolina -- Angie's hometown.
Tyler Perry, Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Keke Wyatt, Tamela Mann, Y'Anna Crawley, Musiq SoulChild, Q. Parker and Stout are just a few of the bold-faced names who will speak or perform at Stone's services.
The second suspect in the murder of rapper G$ Lil Ronnie has been arrested ... TMZ has confirmed.
According to online records, 21-year-old Jakobie Russell -- the second person cops announced as a suspect in the shooting death of Ronnie and his five-year-old daughter -- was arrested Friday for capital Murder of multiple persons, along with assault of a pregnant person and assault causing bodily harm.
It's not clear where he was arrested ... but, he's being held at the Lon Evans Corrections Center in Fort Worth.
Leash up your Dalmatians and walk up to these two similar photos of A$AP Rocky. Can you find the switch-ups in these shady shots?
Earlier this week in NYC, Rihanna's baby daddy was feelin' himself for a "Vogue" photoshoot, buttoning up to the 9s in a white 'n black polka-dot coat and pants! He tied up the fresh look with a red-hot blazer.
Give a good one-two at the pics and see if you can spot the sneaky changes!
HINT: There are THREE differences in the above A$AP Rocky photos!**
Bhad Bhabie had a super scary Thursday afternoon ... three gunmen allegedly tried to storm inside the rapper's Los Angeles area home -- but she called police and the trio got out of dodge.
What's more, Bhabie's on-and-off BF Le Vaughn was also at her house, arriving there just minutes before the armed suspects attempted to break in through a side door, according to our law enforcement sources.
Our sources say either Bhabie or LV first spotted the perpetrators ... but it was Bhabie who called the cops. Police raced to the scene, but the trespassers were already gone.
S-Quire and Pitch Perfect, the rapper and director behind the week's hottest rap music video, aren't celebrating the viral moment their video vixen turned out to be an NYPD detective ... she was such a pro, they hired her from a legit casting agency!!!
TMZ Hip Hop spoke to both artists about their "Doin That" video, now infamous for Detective Melissa Mercado's thong-twerking and pole-dancing moves inside a strip club rented out for the video.
@noe.photo_
S-Quire says having the "cop rap video" is not a tag he wants on his jacket and reveals the onscreen chemistry he and Mercado shared was simply showmanship ... which you can see in the BTS footage below.
