Morgan Freeman pays tribute to late, great Gene Hackman

Morgan Freeman paid tribute to the late Gene Hackman at the 97th Academy Awards.

The 87-year-old actor remembered his “dear friend” - who was found passed away at home with his wife Betsy Arakawa - during the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.

He said: “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’, and, like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gift elevated everyone’s work. He received two Oscars but, more importantly, he 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,’ so I think I speak for us all when I say Gene you will be remembered for that, and for so much more. Rest in peace my friend.”

As well as Hackman, other late Hollywood stars such as Dame Maggie Smith, Bob Newhart, Kris Kristofferson, Shelley Duvall and James Earl Jones were remembered in a montage.