97th Academy Awards: Morgan Freeman Honors 'Beloved Friend' Gene Hackman
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Synopsis
During the 97th Academy Awards, Morgan Freeman delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Gene Hackman, his dear friend and co-star in 'Unforgiven.' The ceremony acknowledged Hackman's legacy and contributions to cinema, emphasizing his generous spirit and remarkable talent.
Key Takeaways
- Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman at the Oscars.
- Hackman was honored during the in memoriam segment.
- He won two Academy Awards during his career.
- Freeman highlighted Hackman's generous nature as a performer.
- His death, along with his wife, remains under investigation.
Los Angeles, March 3 (NationPress) The 97th Academy Awards honored the late star Gene Hackman, with the actor’s “Unforgiven” co-star Morgan Freeman presenting a tribute for his “dear friend”.
The heartfelt speech came just before the ceremony’s in memoriam segment, which acknowledged industry figures who passed away over the last year, according to reports from variety.com.
“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman opened in his address.
“I had the privilege of collaborating with Gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion’. Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I discovered he was a generous artist and a man whose abilities heightened everyone’s performance.”
“Gene often remarked, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'” Freeman continued.
“I believe 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, 95, was discovered deceased alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65. The couple’s bodies were found within their Santa Fe home.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hackman garnered significant awards recognition. He secured two Academy Awards, the first in 1972 for his portrayal of the obsessive narcotics investigator Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s thriller “The French Connection.”
This acclaimed performance established Hackman as one of the definitive American actors of the latter half of the 20th century. His second Oscar win occurred in 1993 for his supporting role as the corrupt lawman Sheriff Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western “Unforgiven.”
In addition to those victories, Hackman received three other Oscar nominations: for supporting roles in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1968) and “I Never Sang for My Father” (1971), as well as a lead nomination for “Mississippi Burning” (1989).
Many tributes have poured in for Hackman, with Eastwood commemorating his “Unforgiven” co-star in a statement to Variety, saying, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa are under investigation.
