At the 97th Annual Academy Awards, Morgan Freeman took to the Oscars stage to pay tribute to his friend, the late Gene Hackman. Tragically, Hackman was found dead, along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa last week, just days before the ceremony.
Saying that the world lost “a giant,” Freeman waxed nostalgic about working with Hackman on two films, Unforgiven in 1992 and Under Suspicion in 2000. But, instead of telling a long, personal story about Hackman, Freeman instead quoted something Hackman had once said to him: “I don’t think about legacy, I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.”
Though Hackman was 95, his recent death has come as a shock. Freeman was clearly moved while talking about his recently departed friend. And though the tribute was short, it was also very heartfelt. According to many, Hackman was a no-frills man, the kind of person who was as down-to-earth as he was talented. As Freeman pointed out, he may have been an award-winning actor (Hackman won five Oscars), but those awards aren’t why people loved him.
“I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you’ll be remembered for that and for so much more,” Freeman said. “Rest in peace, my friend.”
Related: Gene Hackman’s Favorite Movie of His Legendary Career Was a ’70s Slow-Burner