Gene Hackman 's pacemaker was last operational on Feb. 17, the Santa Fe County Sheriff said Friday afternoon, suggesting the Oscar-winning actor had been dead for nine days before he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered in their New Mexico home.

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman’s pacemaker shows he probably died on Feb. 17, days before investigators found his body and that of his wife in their New Mexico home.

The Santa Fe County sheriff said the actor’s pacemaker was inspected and last showed activity nine days before his and his wife’s bodies were found.

Hackman and his wife’s bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide, and his pacemaker stopped more than a week before he was found dead.

Dustin Hoffman paid tribute to Gene Hackman, his former roommate and co-star, following the actor's death at 95. In a statement shared with Deadline, Hoffman recalled first meeting Hackman while both were attending acting school in California.

Hackman, a five-time Oscar nominee, leaves behind a legacy of iconic roles and unforgettable films. His death marks the end of an era in Hollywood. Hackman was known for his versa