"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.

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, with footage of the actor closing the montage.

Gene Hackman died just days before the 97th Academy Awards, raising questions about whether he will be included in the In Memoriam segment.