The 94th annual Academy Awards came and went, with some history-making wins and tolerable entertainment. But some events of the Oscars raised some eyebrows. And we’re not just talking about harassing Malala with a man in a bear costume. There were a number of names missing from this year’s In-Memoriam segment. Understandably, there’s outrage over some.
A choked up John Travolta presented the segment, clearly still feeling the heartbreak over the loss of “Grease” leading lady and co-star, Olivia Newton-John. As Lenny Kravitz played a stirring rendition of his 2004 song “Calling All Angels,” we saw the faces of those no longer with us — including animators, which us nerds greatly appreciate — and yet the segment felt a hair shorter than usual. If it felt like there were people missing, there were.
Was It Intentional? Or Just Poor Planning?
Several actors were quietly kept out of the segment, though the full list could be viewed on the website. Actors like Leslie Jordan, Paul Sorvino, Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Gilbert Gottfried, Charlbi Dean, Topol, Tony Sirico, and Barbara Walters. Host Jimmy Kimmel even joked about Robert Blake being completely erased from the list altogether. Some of these names omitted might be setting a bit of a precedent by the Academy.
Oscar winner Mira Sorvino was understandably incensed her father was left out of the segment. “It is baffling beyond belief that my beloved father and many other amazing brilliant departed actors were left out…The Oscars forgot about Paul Sorvino, but the rest of us never will!!”
It’s possible with the re-addition of all film categories, they needed to pare down elsewhere for time. Though it can’t help but feel mildly disrespectful to leave out persons with such legacies and ties to the Academy.
