The 95th annual Oscars held at the Dolby Theater on Sunday included a touching tribute to some of the fallen stars from 2022 — but some big names were notably missing.
The legendary Lenny Kravitz lent his talents to the “In Memoriam” segment of the award ceremony by singing “Calling All Angels” while playing the piano. The names of talented artists who passed away in 2022 flashed on the big screen, giving each person his own tribute for a few moments. Moments after the segment concluded, the internet erupted with criticism over missing celebrities, including Anne Heche, Gilbert Gottfried, Lisa-Marie Presley, Robert Blake and Tom Sizemore, to name a few.
Can anyone explain why this happens every year? Oscars In Memoriam Segment Missing Paul Sorvino, Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Leslie Jordan and Charlbi Dean From Oscar-Nominated ‘Triangle Of Sadness’ pic.twitter.com/5eT09DGnU9
— Lydia Cornell (@LydiaCornell) March 13, 2023
Other names that were either forgotten or for some reason omitted from this important moment included Leslie Jordan, Tony Sirico, Charlbi Dean Kriek, and Paul Sorvino.
Sorvino starred in some of Hollywood’s most iconic films, including “Goodfellas,” “Reds” and “Romeo + Juliet.”
Kriek starred in the Oscar-nominated film “Triangle of Sadness.”
Heche famously starred in “Wag The Dog” and “Donnie Brasco.”
Leslie Jordan primarily appeared on the small screen but also starred in “The Help.”
Sirico was known for his role in the iconic movie “Goodfellas,” and Sizemore starred in the blockbuster movie “The Saving Private Ryan.”
Gone but certainly not forgotten. Take a moment to look back in remembrance of the artists and filmmakers we lost in 2022-2023. #Oscars95 https://t.co/zbvG5Kusle
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023
Kimmel quipped about Blake’s omission for what most believe to be contentious reasons.
“If you think Robert Blake should be part of the In Memoriam montage, text ‘GIMME-A-Blake’ to the number on your screen,” Kimmel said. Blake was tried and acquitted for his wife’s murder and saw as much off-screen drama in his real life as he did on-screen.
The stars missing from the list made significant contributions to Hollywood and were prominently recognized throughout their time in the spotlight. (RELATED: Elizabeth Banks Narrowly Evades Face-Planting On Oscars Stage)
Fans turned to social media to air their grievances. Many questioned why their favorite stars were left out of the tribute moment. Others chimed in to share the accolades and accomplishments of the celebrities that who left off the list as a way of giving them the moment of recognition they deserved for their work.
