"Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'" Freeman said of his 'Unforgiven' and 'Under Suspicion' co-star.

"I speak for us all when I say Gene, you'll be remembered for that and for so much more. Rest in peace, my friend," Hackman's "Unforgiven" co-star Freeman said.

Celebrated filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away earlier this year on January 16, was included in the 97th Academy Awards’ ‘In Memoriam’ section.

Morgan Freeman led the Oscars' 'In Memoriam' tribute to Gene Hackman this year, which included Gena Rowlands, David Lynch, and James Earl Jones among the other honorees.

James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, Donald Sutherland, David Lynch were honored and remembered at the Academy Awards

Among the notable entertainment figures who have died in 2025 are Gene Hackman, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Lynch and Garth Hudson.

The Oscars producers had “enough time” to include Gene Hackman in the In Memoriam segment. The late actor, along with wife Betsy Arakawa, was found dead at their home last week, and the Academy made a rare exception to include him in the tribute,

Morgan Freeman delivers touching tribute to Gene Hackman at the Oscars - Hackman was found dead this week at the age of 95

The decision about which stars are included -- or excluded -- from the tribute at the Oscars comes down to time.

Fans are not pleased with David Lynch's short Oscars tribute and the omission of Michelle Trachtenberg, Tony Todd, Olivia Hussey and several other actors and filmmakers from the In Memoriam section at Sunday's 97th Academy Awards.

Hackman's image closed the ceremony's in memoriam tribute, which also honored stars like James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, David Lynch and many others. "Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy, I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do ...