The Oscars honoured late actors, directors and filmmakers during the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California this evening
The 97th Academy Awards aired a moving tribute this evening to those in the industry we have lost over the last 12 months.
The Oscars 2025 In Memoriam section included a special tribute to Gene Hackman led by Morgan Freeman. Freeman said: “I had the pleasure of working with Gene Hackman on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion.”
He added that he was a “generous performer”, and said he “won the hearts of film lovers around the world”. Referencing Hackman saying that he wanted to do “good work” in film, Freeman said “you’ll be remembered for that, and so much more”.
The In Memoriam segment then showed images of Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Joan Plowright, Donald Sutherland, Kris Kristofferson, Shelley Duvall, David Lynch, James Earl Jones, and Hackman among others.
Prior to the ceremony beginning inside the Dolby Theatre tonight, it had been reported that Morgan Freeman was set to honour his late friend and co-star Gene Hackman during the 97th Academy Awards. The 87-year-old was a lifelong pal of The French Connection star, 95 – who was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 61, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on 26 February
Two-time Oscar winner Gene and his spouse Betsy’s bodies exhibited signs of mummification, suggesting they had been dead for some time. A German Shepherd was also found dead, while two other dogs were discovered alive on the property. Authorities are investigating the deaths, with initial reports indicating no signs of foul play.
Police investigating the deaths of Gene and his wife Betsy are considering whether the Oscar-winning actor suffered a heart attack shortly before or after his spouse’s sudden death. Authorities discovered Gene’s pacemaker stopped functioning on 17 February – nine days before the couple were found inside their remote ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Blood tests revealed no presence of carbon monoxide in their bodies, leading investigators to reassess initial theories. An investigator has now told reporters: “There is no immediate sign of foul play, although the lack of carbon monoxide has upended the initial theories about how they died.
“We are now looking at whether it could be a death followed by a suicide. Did Mr Hackman die suddenly from a heart attack and his wife was so distraught she took an overdose? Or could his wife have suffered an acute medical event which caused her death, and then Mr Hackman was in such a state that he had a heart attack and died? We are looking at all possibilities.”
Gene, a two-time Oscar winner, was renowned for roles in films such as Superman, and The Royal Tenenbaums. He retired from acting in 2004, choosing a quieter life in New Mexico.
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