Morgan Freeman paid a personal tribute to Gene Hackman at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. His remarks came immediately before the annual In Memoriam montage; they were a separate tribute, not a narration of the montage.
What Morgan Freeman said about Gene Hackman
Freeman opened by saying, “This week our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman.” He added: “He received two Oscars and more importantly he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.” Freeman also recalled Hackman’s hope that people would remember him as someone who tried to do good work, then closed with, “Rest in peace, my friend.” The Associated Press reported Freeman’s remarks on March 3, 2025: Associated Press report.
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Was Gene Hackman included in the Oscars In Memoriam?
Freeman’s remarks about Hackman immediately preceded the annual In Memoriam montage. The Associated Press described them as a late addition to the ceremony and said the montage followed. ABC News also published video of Freeman introducing the segment: ABC News video. The footage documents the introduction, but an edited clip cannot establish what may have been omitted from it. ABC noted that it adjusted the music because of rights restrictions.
When and where was the 2025 Oscars ceremony?
The 97th Academy Awards took place Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony honored films released in 2024, according to the Academy’s 2025 ceremony archive.
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- Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.
The Academy announced on February 26, 2025, that the U.S. broadcast would air live on ABC and stream on Hulu at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Those were the announced channels and times for that broadcast, not confirmation of the ceremony’s current streaming availability: Academy announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Hackman and Freeman worked together
Hackman and Freeman co-starred in two films named by the Associated Press:
Rank #2
- Unforgiven (1992): Hackman won his second Academy Award for the film.
- Under Suspicion (2000): another shared credit for the actors.
Hackman’s first Oscar was for The French Connection, the AP reported. Current streaming availability, home-video editions, and comparative ratings for these films are not established here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- Jason Statham stars in "The Beekeeper," a heart-pounding action-thriller about a mysterious Beekeeper.
- Adam Clay (Statham), a former operative of a powerful organization known as Beekeepers, upends his covert life and embarks on a brutal revenge mission to dismantle corruption at the highest levels of our society.
- The stellar cast also includes Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Iron, amongst others.
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