As authorities investigate the causes of deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, close and longtime friends of the couple say they seemed to be in good health at their last encounter.

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa are believed to have died around nine days before their bodies were discovered, investigators say. The couple were founded dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early hours of February 27 after a maintenance worker called emergency services.

Authorities in New Mexico continue to investigate the cause of death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife​ Betsy Arakawa, but they say it does not appear to be carbon monoxide poisoning.