Oscars 2021: Naya Rivera and Jessica Walter among notable omissions to show’s annual In Memoriam segment
- Tiny Lister and Adam Schlesinger also noted as exclusions from segment
- Social media users complained about the exclusions following the show
- The fast-paced montage was set to Stevie Wonder’s As
Naya Rivera, Jessica Walter, Adam Schlesinger and Tiny Lister were among the notable names omitted from the In Memoriam segment at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
A number of users on social media sounded off about the exclusions following the somber segment, which featured a fast-paced montage of names of those who had died in the year since last year’s ceremony, set to Stevie Wonder’s As.
Rivera, best known for her role on Glee, had appeared in films including the 2017 comedy Mad Families and in the 2014 movie At the Devil’s Door. She died last July in an accidental drowning while she was out on a pontoon boat ride with her son in Lake Piru, California.
The latest: Late stars Naya Rivera and Jessica Walter were among the notable names omitted from the In Memoriam segment at the Academy Awards on Sunday
Rivera’s omission hit and especially tender nerve with fans after she was left out of the Grammys tribute earlier this year.
One fan wrote, ‘Since the academy, along with the grammys, decided yet again not to include naya rivera in the tribute section of their 3 hour long show, we again have to do it for them. you’re with us forever and your talent / legacy will span beyond generations. i love you.’
Another fan added, ‘They are foul for not putting Naya Rivera in the in memoriam,’ while someone noted, ‘I was fully expecting to see Naya Rivera’s name in this segment. Was I the only one?’
Walter, who died last month at 80, was best known for her role on the show Arrested Development, and had films on her resume including the 2020’s The Mimic, 2012’s Bending the Rules, the 1998 comedy Slums of Beverly Hills and 1971’s Play Misty for Me.
RIP: Late Fountains of Wayne singer Adam Schlesinger had past been Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song for That Thing You Do! in 1997
Rivera’s omission hit and especially tender nerve with fans after she was left out of the Grammys tribute earlier this year
The late Tiny Lister was among the notable names left out of the fast-paced segment
Westworld actress Shannon Woodward wrote, ‘Where was Jessica Walter???’ while another user added, ‘The In Memorium section of the #Oscars is always rough, but how on earth did they not include Jessica Walter.’
Also left out was Fountains of Wayne singer Adam Schlesinger, who had been nominated for Best Original Song for That Thing You Do! in 1997. Schlesinger died at 52 in April of 2020 from coronavirus complications.
Writer Andi Zeisler said, ‘Me realizing the In Memoriam segment excluded both Jessica Walter and Adam Schlesingerr’ with a meme of Walter.
Westworld actress Shannon Woodward and writer Andi Zeisler were among the people questioning why Jessica Walter did not get mention
A number of people, including Stevie Van Zandt, noted Schlesinger’s abscence
Famed musician and The Sopranos star Stevie Van Zandt was also among those to note the absence.
‘And In Memoriam-Adam Schlesinger who wrote That Thing You Do and for 10 other movies and was nominated for an Academy and a Golden Globe Award,’ Van Zandt said. ‘And Nicky Cordero who was in Lilyhammer and lots of cool theater and would have had a fabulous film career. Friends not forgotten.’
Another said, ‘No love for Adam Schlesinger during the In Memoriam? ‘Jersey kid who wrote the greatest fictional rock song of all time. Damn.’
A user wrote, ‘I know every year they miss some people in the In Memoriam, but not including Adam Schlesinger is a REALLY big miss.’
User Russ Zimmer noted a number of cinematic turns for Lister in fuming over his omission.
‘The In Memoriam segment forgot Tommy “Tiny” Lister, and I’m a little pi**ed! Friday, Jackie Brown, The Dark Knight – what more do you need to do?’
93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Golden: Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey (seen left to right) as Nomadland won Best Picture
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand – Nomadland – WINNER
Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman – The Father
Amanda Seyfried – Mank
Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER
Sweet: Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress for Minari
Best Music (Original Score)
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER
Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People
Best Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers – WINNER
White Eye
Best International Feature Film
Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Talented: Thomas Vinterberg accepted Best International Film for Another Round
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Music (Original Song)
H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest
Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead
Speak Now – One Night in Miami…
H.E.R. won Best Original Song for Judas and the Black Messiah’s Fight for You
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round
David Fincher – Mank
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
Trailblazer: Chloe Zhao is the first woman of color to win Best Director
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Anthony Hopkins – The Father – WINNER
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Gary Oldman – Mank
Steven Yeun – Minari
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…
Paul Raci – Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers
Dynamic: Dana Murray (L) and Pete Docter won Best Animated Feature for Soul
Best Costume Design
Emma
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Mulan
Pinnochio
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami…
The White Tiger
Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Blooming lovely: Emerald Fennell won Best Original Screenplay for Promising Young Woman
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio