At the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, Morgan Freeman led a tribute to the late Gene Hackman, a fellow Hollywood star and friend. Freeman, who worked with Hackman in two films, including the Oscar-winning 'Unforgiven,' praised Hackman's generosity as a performer and his ability to elevate the work of those around him. Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, was known for his iconic roles in films like 'The French Connection,' 'The Conversation,' and 'Superman.' He had retired from acting in 2004. The tribute was part of the Oscars' in memoriam segment, which featured clips from some of Hackman's most notable films. The ceremony also included a tribute to music producer Quincy Jones, led by Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah, and Queen Latifah. Hackman's death, along with that of his wife Betsy Arakawa, is currently under investigation, with officials awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.