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

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,

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.

Gene Hackman's 'Unforgiven' costars Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Frances Fisher are paying tribute to the Oscar winner after he and his wife were found dead on Feb. 26.

"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 Oscar. "Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him I learned he was a generous performer whose gifts elevated everyone's work,

Morgan Freeman opened the segment with a heartfelt speech about Gene Hackman, with whom he costarred in Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. "Like everyone who's ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man who elevated everyone's work,