The 97th Academy Awards took place on the second of March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony celebrated some of the finest work in cinema last year – whether it was Anora‘s five wins or Adrien Brody winning Best Actor, the Oscars honored a diverse range of talent and storytelling. While fans were happy to see their favorites lift the golden trophy, others felt like many deserving candidates were snubbed this year. Either way, the Oscars 2025 was a night of celebration and utter excellence.
Amidst the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown, though, came the most emotional moment of the show, the “In Memoriam” segment, which left us feeling the loss of artists who recently bid farewell to the world. However, the Internet is upset with the Academy for leaving out some significant personalities from the segment. Here are four.
1. The Oscars 2025 tribute leaves out Tony Todd
It was truly a shocker when the horror legend, Tony Todd was left out from the segment. With his deep and commanding voice, Todd brought roles like Candyman and Ted (Night of the Living Dead) to life with the utmost passion for his work.
Leaving Tony Todd out of the memoriam segment is absolutely horrible. He dedicated so much to his craft and gave life to one of the most historically important horror icons. He was one of a kind and deserves recognition #Oscars pic.twitter.com/TSMDtrVCDD
— thefilthybrick (@thefilthybrick) March 3, 2025
While his influence in the horror genre is undeniable, his decades-long career spans over genres with films like Final Destination and The Rock. Not only films, but Todd had dipped his toes into Broadway and Television as well, making him a true force to reckon with.
The Academy leaving him out of the montage did not sit right with fans at all. He passed away on November 06, 2024.
2. Shannen Doherty – the 90s icon
From Little House on the Prairie to Beverly Hills, 90210, Shannen Doherty gave a lot to the entertainment industry in the four decades of her career. The 90s icon was a defining face of the decade’s pop culture as her work made her a household name.
The last we saw of the actress was in the 2024 action-thriller, Darkness of Man, where she played the role of Vivian.
No Shannen Doherty—star of one of the great films HEATHERS—in the In Memoriam is an outrageous slap in the face. She was a groundbreaker in the way she stood up for herself and voiced her own opinions during a time when women in the industry were supposed to keep quiet. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/nLdwgTZ8v7
— Dustin Putman (@DustinPutman) March 3, 2025
After a long battle with cancer, which spread to her brain and bones in 2023, Doherty passed away on July 13, 2024, just two days after her divorce from Kurt Iswarienko was finalized. Given her impact on the entertainment industry and her tough fight with cancer, Doherty sure deserved a spot in the segment honoring the dead.
3. Olivia Hussey – From one of cinema’s greatest love stories
Oliva Hussey became an international wonder after she starred in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968), one of the most highly-appreciated adaptations of the Shakespearean tragedy. She also voiced Talia al Ghul in Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond. On top of all her work in the film, theatre, and television industry, Hussey was also a part of Star Wars‘ video games cast.
The fact they didn’t include Olivia Hussey in the memoriam at the #Oscars says it all.
They missed out many talents, they disgust me and it says it all about the awards. All a load of nonsense and no actual appreciation of talent. pic.twitter.com/tHCzN8bDgp— Livvy (@Violets4roses) March 3, 2025
For an actress as celebrated and as dedicated as Hussey, being omitted from the ceremony’s most heartfelt and emotional moment seems like a punch to the gut. She deserved better!
4. Michelle Trachtenberg – gone too soon
This is probably the name that hurts the most – after all, Michelle Trachtenberg was only 39 years old when she passed away on the 26th of February this year. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg’s work resonated with audiences across generations.
Michelle Trachtenberg being left out of the #Oscars memoriam segment was wrong on so many levels! 😡 pic.twitter.com/wIzP5Zj3oD
— ⚜️🖤☘️ Cowabunga Peppermill ☘️🖤⚜️ (@CantGuardAriana) March 3, 2025
Whether it was her childhood stardom or the more recent roles of her career, Trachtenberg showed incredible range and versatility when it came to the craft. Losing such a talented soul at such a young age truly shocked us to our cores.
Considering the fact that she only passed away a week before the Oscars, Trachtenberg deserved a spot in the montage and we are quite disappointed with the outcome.
It is worth noting that while these four late celebrities did not get honored in the “In Memoriam” segment at the 2025 Oscars, they were mentioned on The Academy’s site list for the same.
Other significant personalities omitted from the televised tribute include Jim Abrahams, Alain Delon, Bernard Hill, Linda Lavin, Martin Mull, Silvia Pinal, and Carlos Diegues. May they all rest in peace.
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