Why James Van Der Beek and other stars were left out of the 2026 Oscars In Memoriam

Last night was the Academy Awards, and with the awards comes the In Memoriam segment, which is always emotional, but has been met with some controversy. As the tear-jerking segment rolled, viewers quickly noticed that several recognizable names were absent from the tribute, including James Van Der Beek.

Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Robert Carradine, June Lockhart, Bud Cort, and Brigitte Bardot were also missing. 

© Gilles BASSIGNAC

Others, like George Wendt, Julian McMahon, James Ransone, Danielle Spencer, Loretta Swit, and Demond Wilson, were acknowledged only on the Academy’s website, not during the live broadcast.

So why were they left out?

© Variety

According to Us Weekly, the Academy receives hundreds of submissions each year requesting that loved ones and industry colleagues be included in the segment. 

An executive committee made up of members representing different Academy branches reviews those names and makes final recommendations for the telecast.

© Getty

With limited airtime, not every submission can be included in the broadcast itself. Those not featured on stage are still honored online, where their names remain listed for the full year.

The backlash

Still, that explanation hasn’t stopped the backlash. Fans took to social media to express frustration, questioning how certain performers with film credits were overlooked. “Will the Oscars EVER get their In Memoriam right?” one user wrote. “It can’t be THAT difficult yet they mess it up every single year.”

Some people questioned why Oscar winners like Gene Hackman weren’t included, but he was in the segment last year. 

One of the most pointed reactions came from Geoff Keighley, who publicly shared his disappointment that his father, David Keighley, known for his contributions to IMAX and cinema, was not included in the broadcast tribute. 

“So incredibly disappointed and heartbroken,” he wrote, adding that he felt the omission overlooked his father’s impact on film.

This isn’t the first time the segment has sparked debate. Last year, viewers voiced similar frustration when Michelle Trachtenberg was not mentioned during the televised portion.