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

LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) — While not up for an Oscar, actor Morgan Freeman was at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday to pay tribute to two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead last week. As Freeman took the stage Sunday, however, some noticed a simple black glove on his hand.

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

Morgan Freeman honored his "Unforgiven" co-star while introducing the Oscars' In Memoriam segment after the actor and his wife were found dead.

"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 Osc

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.

Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer have won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for "Dune: Part Two" at the 2025 Academy Awards. Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, stars of the forthcoming Disney film "Snow White," presented the category.

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.

The Oscars included a somber elegy for Gene Hackman and a joyful tribute to Quincy Jones. Morgan Freeman paid tribute to his “Unforgiven” co-star Hackman, calling him a “giant” and “dear friend."

The actor won a supporting actor trophy for his performance in Clint Eastwood's 'Million Dollar Baby,' the second of their three collaborations.

LOS ANGELES -- The 2025 Oscars honored the ... By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Morgan Freeman gave tribute to two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, four days ...

LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) — While not up for an Oscar, actor Morgan Freeman was at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday to pay tribute to two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead last week.