AssetID: 54568589
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Morgan Freeman gives heartfelt tribute to Gene Hackman at Academy Awards
Caption: Morgan Freeman gave a heartfelt 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 26 February. 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,” "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.” While Hackman won two Oscars over the course of his career, Freeman noted that he also "won the hearts of film lovers all over the world”. "Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.' I think I speak for us all when I say, 'Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.' Rest in peace, my friend,” Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Gene Hackman,Morgan Freeman,Heartfelt,Tribute,Academy Awards,Home,Santa Fe,Betsy Arakawa,Found,Foul Play,Officers,In Memoriam,Dolby Theatre,Los Angeles,Under Suspicion,Unforgiven,Stage,Investigation,Segment,Pay,Homeage,Artist,Search
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