Gene Hackman Left Out of 2025 Oscars In Memoriam Segment

The 2025 Oscars ceremony honored the actors, filmmakers, and Hollywood-industry individuals who died over the past year, but one star was noticeably left out. Set to a live performance of Mozart's "Requiem – Lacrimosa," the In Memoriam segment presented by Morgan Freeman highlighted late talents like Gene Hackman and James Earl Jones. Freeman even took a moment to give a special shout-out in honor of his recently deceased friend and former Unforgiven costar Hackman, saying, "He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world."

"Gene always said, I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work," Freeman, 87, added. "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."

Shelley Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Maggie Smith, David Lynch, Gena Rowlands, Jeff Baena, and Bob Newhart were also among those honored during the emotional segment at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2, which aired live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Noticeably absent from the segment was Michelle Trachtenberg, who died on Feb. 26 at age 39. However, despite not appearing in the live segment, the Gossip Girl alum and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress was still included as part of the official In Memoriam database on The Academy's website.

The Harriet the Spy star's cause of death was ruled "undetermined" by the New York City Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday, Feb. 27.

One day after Trachtenberg's death, it was announced that Hackman had also died. The bodies of Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs were discovered in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home the day prior.

The deaths were deemed "suspicious enough in nature" for "a thorough search and investigation," per ABC News, and are part of an active investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.

The retired five-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner was 95.

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See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 97th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien and airing on ABC.