The Oscar winner's 'Unforgiven' costars Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Frances Fisher paid tribute after his death

Celebrities excluded from the Oscars In Memoriam tribute is causing a stir online. On Sunday, Morgan Freeman presented the segment at the Academy Awards, which honored actors and filmmakers who died over the last year including Gene Hackman,

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

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.

Actor Gene Hackman, who died last month at age 95, received a stirring tribute from friend and collaborator Morgan Freeman on Sunday's Oscar telecast.

"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.

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."

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