Morgan Freeman paid a special tribute to Gene Hackman Sunday night at the Oscars, calling the late actor a "giant" and a "dear friend."

Gene Hackman was honored at the Academy Awards by his 'Unforgiven' co-star Morgan Freeman: "Our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend."

Freeman and Hackman, who was found dead last week at the age of 95, appeared together in the 1992 western “Unforgiven.”