Morgan Freeman Pays A Heartfelt Tribute To Gene Hackman At The 2025 Oscars

Morgan Freeman gave an emotion eulogy to his 'dear friend' Gene Hackman at the 2025 Academy Awards.

The 'French Connection' actor was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on February 26. Hackman was 95 and Arakawa was 64.

Despite no obvious signs of foul play, police officers decided the deaths were 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation'.

And as part of the In Memoriam segment held to pay homage to the artists who have died over the past year, Freeman took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to honour the Hollywood icon.

'This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Clint Eastwood's 1992 movie 'Unforgiven' and Stephen Hopkins's 2000 film 'Under Suspicion',' he recalled. 'Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone's work.'