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The 2026 Oscars featured a heartwarming In Memoriam dedicated to the industry professionals who passed away over the past year, but some viewers tuning in were left disappointed by some notable absences from the tribute, including James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane.
Billy Crystal led an emotional tribute to his friend and When Harry Met Sally director Rob Reiner at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday (March 15), while Rachel McAdams honored fellow Canadian actress Catherine O'Hara as well as "legend" and her The Family Stone costar Diane Keaton and Barbra Streisand reminisced about her longtime friend Robert Redford.
However, fans watching the award show pointed to stars like Dane and Van Der Beek, who both died last month, missing from the televised In Memoriam segment. While both late actors were more known for their work on television, they each had experience in film as well. Other actors missing from the televised segment include Brigitte Bardot, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Robert Carradine, to name a few, who have all died since the 2025 Oscars, according to Variety.
Despite not appearing on the televised segment, they and many other actors and filmmakers seemingly snubbed from the tribute are included on The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' official In Memoriam database website.