Hollywood Fails To Honor The Stars Who Shaped The Very Stage They Stand On In Major Oscars Mess-Up

The Oscars’ In Memoriam segment offered tear-jerking tributes, yet the omission of major stars felt utterly unforgivable.

The heartfelt segment started off strong, as Billy Crystal shared personal memories of his beloved friend, Rob Reiner. His touching message hit home, as Crystal recalled Reiner’s iconic hit films. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Rachel McAdams paid tribute to Diane Keaton and Barbra Streisand commemorated the life of the legendary Robert Redford by singing “The Way We Were.” While some stars received emotional tributes during the broadcast, others were quietly relegated to a longer list posted online.

Stars James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Robert Carradine, June Lockhart, and Brigitte Bardot were among several who didn’t make the cut. Their names were included on the Oscars website, but there was no mention of them on television.

Billy Crystal delivers a tribute to Rob Reiner at the #Oscars , bringing out stars from his past movies including Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland and Kathy Bates.

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US actor Eric Dane attends Prime Video’s “Countdown” premiere at the Harmony Gold theatre in Los Angeles on June 18, 2025. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

SANTA MONICA, CA – MARCH 19: Actress Danielle Spencer arrives at the 2006 TV Land Awards at the Barker Hangar on March 19, 2006 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

American actors Red Foxx (1922 – 1991) (left) Demond Wilson in a still from the television series, ‘Sanford And Son,’ c. 1974. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

Others who appeared only on the Academy’s website but not on the broadcast were George Wendt, Julian McMahon, James Ransone, Danielle Spencer, “MASH” star Loretta Swit and Demond Wilson.

The Oscars honor the best on the big screen – the least they could do is show images of each of their fallen stars.

PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 24: James Van Der Beek stops by WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T during Sundance Film Festival 2020 on January 24, 2020 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for WarnerMedia and AT&T )

For an institution built on celebrating famous faces and cinematic legacies, failing to include all of them in the televised tribute feels like an epic fail.  If the Oscars can devote minutes to spectacle and filler, surely they can find the time to properly honor every artist who helped shape the industry.

US actor James Ransone arrives for the World premiere of “It Chapter Two” at the Regency Village theatre in Westwood, California on August 26, 2019. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: Robert Carradine attends “King of the Nerds” Press Room at 2014 New York Comic Con at Jacob Javitz Center on October 9, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

A room full of producers, directors and filmmakers couldn’t manage a few extra flash-cuts, or slip additional images into the existing photo montage? It’s both lazy and dismissive to quietly shuffle some names to an online list few people will ever see.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 09: June Lockhart arrives at The Actors Fund 17th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party held at Taglyan Cultural Complex on June 9, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images)

NEW YORK – JULY 06: Actor Julian McMahon attends the premiere of “Fantastic Four” on Liberty Island July 6, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images for Fox Studios)

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a household name thanks to “The Cosby Show,” and that same impact was felt by George Wendt on “Cheers.” Brigitte Bardot is nothing short of a legend. Each of the overlooked stars deserved more than a footnote on a webpage – they deserved to be recognized on the very stage that celebrates the industry they helped build. (RELATED: Celebrities Pour On The Love After Death Of Malcolm-Jamal Warner)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 29: Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends SCAD aTVfest 2020 – In Conversation With Malcolm-Jamal Warner on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2020)

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 14: George Wendt attends the TBS / TNT Upfront 2014 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2014 in New York City. 24674_002_0135.JPG (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)

Kino. Brigitte Bardot, 1950er, 1950s, Bardot, Brigitte, Film Star, French, Portrait, posing, Brigitte Bardot, 1950er, 1950s, Bardot, Brigitte, Film Star, French, Portrait, posing, Brigitte Bardot. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)

Instead, in a moment that could have been a meaningful tribute, the Academy managed to turn remembrance into yet another avoidable failure.