Morgan Freeman describes the actor as "incredibly gifted" while Clint Eastwood said he was "extremely saddened" by the news.

Hackman, an Oscar-winning actor who recently died at the age of 95, was honored ahead of the ceremony's in memoriam segment.

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,

Morgan Freeman pays tribute to his “dear friend” Gene Hackman: “He received two Oscars but more importantly he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/LA4voHhYf6 Morgan Freeman honored Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman during the Oscars telecast on Sunday.

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.

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 Hackman was honored at the Academy Awards by his 'Unforgiven' co-star Morgan Freeman: "Our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend."

"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.

Morgan Freeman paid a special tribute to Gene Hackman Sunday night at the Oscars, calling the late actor a "giant" and a "dear friend."