Authorities have concluded their official autopsy into Gene Hackman’s cause of death, painting a heartbreaking picture of the iconic actor’s final days.

Hackman, 95, died in February, just days after the death of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their secluded home in New Mexico.

Documents from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator released Monday found that Hackman had been suffering from a series of life-threatening health problems, including severe heart disease, chronic kidney failure and advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

Most troubling was the finding of traces of acetone in his system and no food in his stomach, making it likely the the confused star went a”prolonged” period of time without eating.

It was previously concluded that Arakawa had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome – a rare condition spread via rodent droppings and urine.

The partially mummified remains of Hackman and Arakawa were found in their Santa Fe home on February 26, when maintenance and security workers attended the house and alerted police.

Hackman and Arakawa’s partially mummified bodies were found in their home. Photo: AAP

According to the medical examiner’s report, Hackman’s autopsy “showed severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with placement of coronary artery stents and a bypass graft, as well as a previous aortic valve replacement”.

“Remote myocardial infarctions were present involving the left ventricular free wall and the septum, which were significantly large. Examination of the brain showed microscopic findings of advanced stage Alzheimer’s disease.”

The medical examiner noted that Hackman had acetone levels at 5.3 mg/dl, with normal levels rising to only 0.3 mg/dl.

The report suggested that acetone is “also a product of diabetic- and fasting-induced ketoacidosis as well as a metabolite following isopropanol ingestion,” concluding that Hackman’s levels may suggest prolonged fasting.

Hackman was a five-time Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for The French Connection in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven two decades later.

Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They soon moved in together and relocated to Santa Fe by the end of the decade.

Their Southwestern-style ranch on Old Sunset Trail sits on a hill in a gated community with views of the Rocky Mountains. The sprawling four-bedroom home on 2.4 hectares was built in 1997.

Hackman also co-wrote three novels, starting with the swashbuckler, Wake of the Perdido Star, with Daniel Lenihan in 1999, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. He then penned two by himself, concluding with Pursuit in 2013, about a female police officer on the tail of a predator.