Morgan Freeman will honor his longtime friend and Unforgiven co-star Gene Hackman during the Oscars’ in memoriam segment. Hackman’s family confirmed to TMZ that Freeman was chosen to pay tribute to the legendary actor, who passed away last week along with his wife, Betsy, at their home in Santa Fe.
Freeman and Hackman shared the screen in the 1992 Clint Eastwood classic Unforgiven, for which Hackman won his second Oscar. They later reunited for the 2000 thriller Under Suspicion, one of Hackman’s final films before he retired in 2004. Despite their strong connection, Hackman’s family has stated they will not be attending the ceremony.
Hackman’s sudden death remains under investigation, with authorities revealing that his pacemaker last registered activity on February 17. While toxicology reports are still pending, initial tests ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of death.
The Academy has yet to publicly confirm details of the tribute, but Freeman’s involvement ensures that Hackman’s impact on Hollywood will be recognized during the industry’s biggest night.
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