At the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, Morgan Freeman opened the in-memoriam segment with a heartfelt tribute to legendary actor Gene Hackman, who passed away recently at 95.

“Well, this week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman said. “I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion’. Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work. He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.”

Freeman concluded with words that resonated deeply with the audience: “Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.’ So I think 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, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26. He is survived by three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese.

A two-time Academy Award winner, Hackman’s career spanned decades. He won his first Oscar for Best Actor in ‘The French Connection’ (1972) and his second for Best Supporting Actor in ‘Unforgiven’ (1993) – a movie which saw Hackman and Freeman work together. Hackman was nominated five times, with additional nods for ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ (1968), ‘I Never Sang for My Father’ (1971), and ‘Mississippi Burning’ (1989).

Earlier, Freeman also posted a tribute to his friend and co-actor Hackman on Instagram, following the news of his death. “One of the personal highlights of my career was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to life with the incredibly gifted Gene Hackman. And of course… Unforgiven. Rest in peace, my friend,” Freeman wrote.