The Academy Awards are known for celebrating the best of cinema, but this year’s broadcast left many viewers talking about something else entirely.
During the emotional In Memoriam segment at the 98th ceremony, several beloved Hollywood figures were honored with moving tributes from fellow stars.
However, fans quickly noticed that some notable names were missing from the montage, sparking immediate outrage online as audiences questioned how the Oscars could overlook so many recognizable figures.
Oscars In Memoriam Honors Legendary Stars During Emotional Segment
The annual In Memoriam tribute is often one of the most emotional moments of the Oscars, as the film industry pauses to reflect on artists who passed away during the past year.
This year’s segment featured heartfelt tributes delivered by several well-known actors.
Rachel McAdams took the stage to remember fellow actresses Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, highlighting the lasting influence both performers had on the industry.
“This year, we lost so many artists, including actresses whose talent and originality widened the world for all of us,” McAdams said per the Daily Mail, while addressing the audience.
She also reflected on O’Hara’s impact, describing the actress as someone who “made us laugh until we cried.”
When speaking about Keaton, the actress shared a more personal connection after working with the star on “The Family Stone.”
“For over 50 years, luminous on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say, there’s not an actress of my generation who’s not inspired by and enthralled with her absolute singularity,” McAdams noted.
Oscars Tribute Also Celebrates Iconic Filmmakers And Performers
Other Hollywood legends were also remembered during the tribute. Actor Billy Crystal appeared on stage to honor filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, following their tragic deaths.
Crystal had previously collaborated with Reiner on beloved films, including “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride,” making the tribute especially meaningful.
“My friend Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes because they were about what makes us laugh and cry and what we aspire to be: Far better in his eyes, far kinder, far funnier, and far more human…” Crystal said during the ceremony.
He continued by reflecting on how much Reiner valued his audience’s support, noting, “To the millions who have enjoyed his films all these years, I want you to know here and around the world, how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you.”
Crystal concluded the tribute on an emotional note by adding, “And for us who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.”
Oscars Viewers Furious Over Actors Missing From The Tribute
if the oscars can find ten minutes for an opening skit, they can find five seconds for a photo of eric dane. leaving him out just because he did more tv than movies is such a tired, elitist excuse
— Zoey 🐱 (@zoeylilkitty) March 16, 2026
While the Oscars ceremony honored several Hollywood figures, many viewers quickly noticed that some notable names were missing from the televised montage.
Fans pointed out that actors such as Eric Dane, James Van Der Beek, and Brigitte Bardot were not included.
Dane died on February 19 at age 53 after battling ALS, while Van Der Beek’s passing at 48 had been confirmed just days earlier.
Bardot, famous for films like “And God Created Woman,” died at the age of 91 in late December 2025.
The omissions immediately triggered backlash across social media platforms, particularly on X, where viewers expressed frustration with the Oscars.
“I was sad that eric dane didn’t appear in the in memoriam tribute at the oscars,” one user wrote.
Another fan questioned the decision, posting, “Why weren’t Eric Dane and James Van Der Beek included in the In Memoriam #Oscars?”
Oscars Fans Say Tribute Omissions Happen ‘Every Year’
Eric Dane and James van Der ?
Disgusting.
Because they are TV actors? ? pic.twitter.com/iQWk4NUcef
— pankajpnkj (@pankajpnkj2) March 16, 2026
As reactions continued pouring in, more viewers began pointing out additional names that had been left out of the televised tribute.
Actors such as Robert Carradine, Richard Chamberlain, Bud Cort, Tom Noonan, Julian McMahon, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner were also reportedly absent from the segment.
Frustrated viewers began accusing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of repeatedly overlooking performers with film careers. “How do they get this wrong every year??” one user asked.
Another person pushed back against the idea that some omitted stars were primarily television actors.
“They’re TV actors. They’ve both been in films and they have had TV actors in the film awards memoriam before BUT they miss more prominent film actors every year somehow,” they revealed.
One fan summed up their frustration in a short post, writing simply, “What a disgrace.”
Oscars Tribute Includes Emotional Goodbye From Barbra Streisand
Despite the backlash, the ceremony still featured several powerful moments that resonated with audiences.
Legendary performer Barbra Streisand took the stage to honor longtime friend and collaborator Robert Redford.
The pair had famously starred together in the romantic drama “The Way We Were,” and Streisand shared memories from both their professional and personal relationship.
“He was a brilliant, subtle actor. And we had a wonderful time playing off each other because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do in the scene,” she told the audience.
Streisand also recalled a conversation with Redford years later that stayed with her. “Babs, I love you dearly and I always will,” she remembered him telling her.
Reflecting on their final exchange, she revealed the touching words she once wrote back to him, saying, “And in the last note I ever wrote to Bob, I ended it with, ‘I love you, too.’ And I signed it, ‘Babs.’”
The tribute concluded with Streisand singing lyrics from “The Way We Were,” bringing the emotional segment to a close even as debate about the Oscars’ omissions continued online.
