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

Hackman's colleague and friend Morgan Freeman gave a brief tribute to the actor before the Oscars' in memoriam segment.Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Actor Gene Hackman, who died last month at age 95, received a stirring tribute from friend and collaborator Morgan Freeman on Sunday's Oscar telecast.

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

The partially mummified bodies of Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered in February at their home in New Mexico.

Gene Hackman​ died of heart disease and Betsy Arakawa's cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, officials said.

One discrepancy in the death of actor Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their three beloved dogs has been resolved after authorities mistakenly identified the deceased dog as a German shepherd.

Freeman and Hackman, who was found dead last week at the age of 95, appeared together in the 1992 western “Unforgiven.”

Morgan Freeman led an emotional tribute to honor Gene Hackman at the 2025 Oscars — just days after “The French Connection” actor and his wife were discovered dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.

Freeman kicked off the show's in memoriam segment with a special tribute to Hackman, who was found dead in his Santa Fe, New Mexico home last month.