Los Angeles, March 3 -- The 2025 Oscars are underway, and Ben Stiller took a moment to pay tribute to his late co-star Gene Hackman, who passed away just days ago at the age of 95.

Stiller, who starred alongside Hackman in the 2001 film 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' remembered the legendary actor as a "giant" in the industry.

"He was literally one of my favorite actors," Stiller said on the red carpet to People magazine, adding, "Growing up, the movies that he made - French Connection, Scarecrow, going all the way through Hoosiers, so many films... For me, he was someone I looked up to as just one of the most authentic, real, charismatic and honest actors."

Stiller and Hackman collaborated on 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' a film that also starred ...