The 2023 Oscars in Memoriam Tribute: Who Was Left Out?
The Oscars in memoriam segment is always emotional as it honors those in the film industry who passed away during the past year. However, this year’s tribute left out some notable stars. John Travolta introduced the segment and paid tribute to his late Grease co-star, Olivia Newton-John, before Lenny Kravitz performed “Calling All Angels.” But it was the stars who didn’t make it into the TV tribute that grabbed the attention of viewers.
The biggest omissions this year included Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, Leslie Jordan, Charlbi Dean, Gilbert Gottfried, Estelle Harris, and Lisa Marie Presley. Dean’s omission was particularly notable since her film, Triangle of Sadness, was up for multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The South African actor and model died in August from bacterial sepsis at the age of 32.
Heche, who starred in Six Days, Seven Nights and Donnie Brasco, died the same month from inhalation and thermal injuries after she crashed her car into a house in Los Angeles. Goodfellas actor Sorvino, who died in July at 83, was also not remembered during the show. However, his daughter Mira made sure he was not forgotten by sharing a tribute on social media. She also wrote, “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!!”
The Help and Sordid Lives actor Jordan, who died in a car crash in October at age 67, and Fiddler on the Roof star Chaim Topol, who died March 8 at 87, were also left out. So was Saving Private Ryan actor Sizemore, who died March 3 at age 61 after suffering a brain aneurysm. Lost Highway and In Cold Blood actor Robert Blake, who died March 9 at age 89, was also not included. However, viewers got a sense that would happen when, ahead of the segment, host Jimmy Kimmel jokingly asked the audience whether they thought Blake should be included.
It should be noted, however, that many of those left out of the televised tribute are included in the Oscars’ larger online in-memoriam gallery. Among the stars who were included in the tribute were Raquel Welch, Kirstie Alley, James Caan, Ray Liotta, Angela Lansbury, Irene Cara, and composer Burt Bacharach.
In conclusion, while the Oscars in memoriam segment is always emotional, it’s unfortunate that some stars were left out this year. It’s essential to honor all those who contributed to the film industry, and hopefully, future tributes will do so in a more comprehensive and inclusive manner.
