In memoriam segment

Lore & Background

The concept originated at the 50th Academy Awards in 1978, when a special segment featured Sammy Davis Jr. singing 'Come Light the Candles' over a memorial montage. However, it was not until the 66th Academy Awards in 1994 that the In Memoriam segment became an annual Oscar tribute, honoring movie stars, film crew members, and Hollywood executives who had died in the previous year. The Grammys, Emmys, and Screen Actors Guild Awards soon adopted similar annual segments. By the early 21st century, the tribute had become one of the most popular and most scrutinized parts of awards ceremonies.

The selection process typically involves a committee that starts with a long list of hundreds of recently deceased individuals and whittles it down to a feasible number that fits into a montage of a few minutes. Inclusion does not require membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the decision depends on the person's level and quality of contributions to the movie industry. If an actor was better known for television or Broadway work, the committee might exclude them from the Oscars' montage. Sometimes, a deceased person receives an individual tribute apart from the segment, depending on the timing of their death or the magnitude of their impact.

Reader's Guide

The in memoriam segment has become a significant and often controversial element of awards ceremonies. Its popularity stems from its emotional resonance, but it also draws scrutiny over who is included or excluded. Notable controversies include the exclusion of Farrah Fawcett from the 82nd Academy Awards while Michael Jackson was included, and the omission of Corey Haim from the 83rd Academy Awards, which led to public criticism from his co-star Corey Feldman. In 2017, the 89th Academy Awards mistakenly showed an image of a living person, Jan Chapman, instead of Janet Patterson, prompting an apology. The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018 drew outrage for including politician John McCain but not rapper Mac Miller. In 2025, the 97th Academy Awards faced backlash for omitting actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who died four days before the ceremony, while including Gene Hackman. The segment's producers sometimes face pressure from public relations professionals lobbying for inclusion, and the decisions can generate heated discussion. The Golden Globe Awards notably do not feature a televised in memoriam segment, instead honoring the deceased with a tribute page on their website.

Did You Know?

• In 2014, CBS chose not to air the Tony Awards' in memoriam segment on television, showing it only to the live audience during a commercial break.
• In 2018, the Laurence Olivier Awards renamed their Best Director trophy the 'Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director' after omitting Sir Peter Hall from their in memoriam segment.