James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane were among the stars excluded from the 2026 Oscar ceremony’s “In Memoriam” tribute.
The “Dawson’s Creek” alum lost his battle with colon cancer in February, and later that month, the “Euphoria” star passed away from ALS.
After the show, social media users expressed their anger at the snub via X.
“What a missed opportunity,” one person wrote, while another added: “Wrong to leave them out.”
Many noted that Van Der Beek and Dane are primarily known for their television work, although they have also appeared in films throughout their careers.
Remarkably, both men died shortly before the ceremony, as did Michelle Trachtenberg, whose snub made headlines last year.
Additionally, actress Brigitte Bardot, “The Cosby Show” alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner and “Lizzie McGuire” father Robert Carradine were excluded from the emotional moment at Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.
This section honors big stars such as Catherine O’Hara, Robert Duvall and Diane Ladd, and expands on the tributes to Rob Reiner, director of When Harry Met Sally, Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall, and Robert Redford, star of Annie Hall.
In memory of Redford, who passed away in September 2025 at the age of 89, Barbra Streisand sang “The Way We Were,” a song from the 1973 film of the same name.
Rachel McAdams called her “Family Stone” co-star “a never-ending legend” in an emotional speech five months after the 79-year-old’s death.
Reiner, who was stabbed to death along with his wife Michelle Reiner in their Los Angeles home in December 2025, was honored by the “All in the Family” alum by Kiefer Sutherland, Meg Ryan and other attendees.
Oscar producers Raj Kapoor and Katie Mullan told Variety ahead of this weekend’s event that the part was not “downplayed.”
“Everything is important, from the graphic design to the title to the placement,” the former explained. “It’s very nuanced, who follows whom and where the beats happen.
“There are so many changes and revisions that the team that puts the film together is working almost all the way up to the show,” he continued. “For people, this is a chance to say goodbye. It’s a chance to see the people they love again, and it’s a memory.”
Moulin added that the film industry has had an “incredibly tough year of loss” as “so many movie giants have passed away.”
