German director Matthias Zentner has signed with New York-based foreignfilms@cYclops for exclusive spot representation in the U.S.…Composer PJ Hanke, a former partner in Spank! Music & Sound Design, Los Angeles (which also has an office in Chicago), has launched a new music house, Sovereign, Los Angeles. Joining him as executive producer in the new venture is Katie Jones, who served in the same capacity at Spank!….Klasky Csupo Animation Studio, Hollywood, has hired Suzy Barbieri as senior VP of feature film development. She comes over from Imagine Entertainment, Los Angeles, where she served as VP, motion pictures…. Jonathan Whitehead has been named general manager, operations and sales, at Margarita Mix de Santa Monica, one of The L.A. Studios’ audio post houses. He had most recently been freelance producing for ad agencies, production companies, post studios and visual effects shops….The California Film Commission (CFC) has re-elected Chris Essel as its board chairperson. Essel is senior VP, government and community affairs, for Paramount Pictures. Actor/director/producer Danny DeVito has been elected as CFC board vice chair. And re-elected as CFC secretary was Sandra Berke Jordan, president of the Motion Picture Costumers, Local 705….
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More