Morgan Freeman to honour Gene Hackman at Oscars tribute

Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman is set to pay tribute to his late Unforgiven co-star Gene Hackman during the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. The tribute, part of the In Memoriam segment, will recognize Hackman’s remarkable contributions to cinema.

Hackman’s passing has left Hollywood in mourning, with tributes pouring in for the two-time Oscar-winning actor known for iconic roles in The French Connection, The Conversation, and Mississippi Burning. Freeman and Hackman shared the screen in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992), which earned Hackman his second Academy Award. The pair later reunited in the 2000 thriller Under Suspicion, one of Hackman’s final films before his retirement in 2004.

Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe home on February 28, 2025. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances of their deaths, with initial medical findings suggesting Hackman passed away on February 17, based on activity recorded by his pacemaker. While toxicology reports are pending, early results indicate no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hackman’s family has confirmed they will not be attending the Oscars but expressed gratitude for the tribute. The Academy has yet to release an official statement, but Freeman’s speech is expected to be a heartfelt farewell to one of cinema’s most revered actors.