Morgan Freeman produced a touching tribute to Gene Hackman in an emotional speech at the 97th Academy Awards.
The 97th Academy Awards paid tribute to Gene Hackman, who, alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, was found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday (February 26).
Details from the search warrant into their deaths claim investigators are treating the deaths as ‘suspicious enough’ to investigate further.
While the sheriff’s office said it did not suspect foul play, having found no signs of ‘external trauma’ on their bodies, they haven’t yet completely ruled it out.
It was Morgan Freeman who headed up the tributes at the Oscars, with the pair starring together in the 1992 classic Unforgiven.
Freeman and Hackman joined forces once more on the 2000 flick Under Suspicion, marking one of the latter’s final roles in Hollywood before retiring.
As per Variety, Freeman began his speech: “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, Unforgiven and 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.
“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.”
Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter, Annie, have released a statement in recent days following the actor’s death.
Speaking to the New York Post, they said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy.
“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa.
“We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
As part of the investigation into the deaths, Santa Fe City Fire department have seemingly ruled out carbon monoxide leak or poisoning as they found no signs of this at the home.
The New Mexico Gas Company also found no signs of this after carrying out tests on the gas line and around the residence.
Oscars 2025 results: the nominees and winners announced so far
Best supporting actor
Yura Borisov – Anora
Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain – WINNER
Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best animated feature
Flow – WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best costume design
Wicked – WINNER
Nosferatu
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Best original screenplay
Anora – Sean Baker – WINNER
The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
A Complete Unknown – Jay Cocks and James Mangold
Conclave – Peter Straughan – WINNER
Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best make-up and hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance – WINNER
Wicked
Best film editing
Anora – WINNER
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best supporting actress
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez – WINNER
Best production design
Wicked – WINNER
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Conclave
Best original song
‘Never Too Late’ – Elton John: Never Too Late
‘El Mal’ – Emilia Pérez – WINNER
‘Mi Camino’ – Emilia Pérez
‘Like A Bird’ – Sing Sing
‘The Journey’ – The Six Triple Eight
Best sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two – WINNER
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best visual effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two – WINNER
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Best cinematography
The Brutalist – WINNER
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Best original score
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best international feature
I’m Still Here – Brazil
The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
Emilia Pérez – France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
Flow – Latvia
Best actor
Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best director
Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker – Anora
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Best actress
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison – Anora
Demi Moore – The Substance
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked