Morgan Freeman tribute to Gene Hackman at Oscars honors Academy Award-winning actor after death
The Oscars are honoring Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman.
The awards celebrated the life and career of the "French Connection" star at Sunday's ceremony, days after he was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs on Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hackman's colleague and friend Morgan Freeman gave a brief tribute to the actor before the Oscars' in memoriam segment.
"This week, our community lost a giant and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman," Freeman said.
Hackman and Freeman worked together on Clint Eastwood's 1992 film "Unforgiven" and again in 2000 in Stephen Hopkins' "Under Suspicion."
"Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him," Freeman said, "I learned he was a generous performer whose gifts elevated everyone's work."
Freeman recalled a quote from Hackman: "I don't think about legacy, I just hope people remembered me as someone who tried to do good work."
He ended his tribute saying, "Gene, you'll be remembered for that and so much more. Rest in peace my friend."
In an earlier tribute to his late co-star, Freeman posted on X: "One of the personal highlights of my career was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to life with the incredibly gifted Gene Hackman. And of course... Unforgiven. Rest in peace, my friend."
Hackman earned two Oscars over his 60-year career of five nominations: best actor for "The French Connection" in 1971, and best supporting actor for "Unforgiven" in 1992.
An intense character actor, Hackman brought a rogue charm and everyman believability to iconic roles, such as his best acting-winning performance as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in the aforementioned "The French Connection."
The multitalented actor and novelist Hackman infused humanity and his trademark laugh into even his villain roles, a particular specialty in his four-decade film career – from the gleeful megalomaniac Lex Luthor in the "Superman" franchise, his nuke-happy submarine commander in 1995's "Crimson Tide," his conniving secretary of defense in 1987's "No Way Out," a deadly corporate lawyer in "The Firm" his sleazy B-movie director in 1995's "Get Shorty" and his loathsome sheriff in his Oscar-winning "Unforgiven" role.
Other Oscar highlights include his best supporting actor nominations for "Bonnie and Clyde" (1968) and "I Never Sang for My Father" (1971) and a best actor nomination for "Mississippi Burning" (1989).
Maggie Smith, David Lynch remembered at Oscars in memoriam segment
The in memoriam segment at the Oscars, as always, featured many entertainment industry figures lost since the last ceremony. Besides Hackman, this included actress Maggie Smith, director David Lynch, director Jeff Baena and actor Donald Sutherland, among many others.
Queen Latifah paid tribute to Quincy Jones later in the Oscars broadcast.
Mystery swirls around Gene Hackman death
Questions from law enforcement and fans of the Oscar winner have persisted in the days after Hackman was found. Hackman largely retreated from the spotlight but had "deeply woven" himself into his Santa Fe, New Mexico community, said Santa Fe Film Office executive director Jennifer LaBar-Tapia at a Friday press conference.
"Gene was not only a legendary actor whose talent shaped generations of storytelling, but he and Betsy were also longtime residents of our community," LaBar-Tapia said. Hackman's pacemaker revealed that "his last event was recorded on Feb. 17, 2025," Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said at the Friday press conference.
Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide, Mendoza said during the press conference. Authorities found the actor in a mudroom near his cane, appearing to have fallen, while his wife Arakawa was found in an open bathroom near a space heater, according to a search warrant affidavit.
Contributing: Anika Reed, Jay Stahl, Bryan Alexander, David Oliver, Laura Trujillo