Freeman, whose friendship with Hackman spans decades, called the late actor a “giant” of the film industry in his homage.

Gene Hackman was honored at the Oscars 2025 by friend Morgan Freeman, four days after he and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their New Mexico home

"Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'" Freeman said of his 'Unforgiven' and 'Under Suspicion' co-star.

The Oscars paid tribute to Gene Hackman during Sunday's ceremony, with the actor's "Unforgiven" co-star Morgan Freeman introducing an honor for the late star. The speech preceded the ceremony's in memoriam,

"This week, our community lost a giant and I lost a dear friend," said Freeman, who worked with Hackman in two films, including 1992's Unforgiven, which won Hackman his second Osc

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, introducing the In Memoriam segment at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, paid his respects to Gene Hackman, praising his late co-star as a "giant" of Hollywood — and "a dear friend.