Gene Hackman’s family cautions against speculation surrounding the screen legend’s passing

After the shock of screen icon Gene Hackman’s passing, speculation surrounding the nature of his death quickly ran rampant.

The Hollywood community and fans across the world were left in mourning following Hackman’s passing at 95, his death marking the end of an era for the entertainment world.

Hackman and his wife were found dead in their home in New Mexico in the US after Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check on Wednesday, February 26.

While authorities have ruled out foul play in Hackman’s death, many theories have emerged about how the Hollywood star died.

Hackman’s nephew, Tim, has expressed his reluctance to fuel “negative theories” and is waiting for officials to determine the cause of death.

“We’re waiting on toxicology. That will tell us everything. It’s hard to theorise. There are lots of theories out there and I don’t want to speculate. It’s easy to speculate negative theories,” he told Us Weekly.

“The family wants to keep it positive for now and when we know the truth we will deal with it.”

Tim also revealed that the descriptions of Hackman and his wife’s mummified bodies, as well as that of their dog Zinna, have left the family with many unanswered questions.

“My uncle was 95 years old at an age where you think about, ‘OK, it’s time’. But from the circumstances now things have changed a bit. It’s a major change,” he said.

Investigators have suggested it could take weeks to determine the cause of death.

Tim’s comments come after new details emerged regarding Hackman’s passing. Authorities recently revealed that Hackman’s pacemaker last sent a signal on February 17, according to a pathologist. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared this information during a press conference, suggesting that the late screen legend may have died nine days before he and his wife were found dead in their home.

“It is a good assumption that was his last day of life,” Mendoza told reporters.

-with BANG.