As the biggest movie night in America, the Oscars gets a lot of scrutiny from fans and critics, which is why its snub of Paul Sorvino , Anna Heche , and Tom Sizemore on Sunday night didn’t go unnoticed.
The Problematic ‘In Memoriam’ Segment
The Academy included an In Memoriam segment to honor its fallen stars, especially Grease star Olivia Newton-John. Her former co-star, John Travolta, introduced the montage as Lenny Kravitz sang Calling All Angels.
RELATED STORIES
Who Was Missing?
Other stars like Anna Heche , Paul Sorvino, Tom Sizemore, Tony Sirico, and Leslie Jordan were notably missing from the tribute, and fans didn’t take that snub lightly. They took to the internet to express their displeasure.
Mira Sorvino Speaks Out
Sorvino’s daughter, Mira, 55, famous for Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion , expressed her displeasure in a tweet calling out the Oscars.
She said the world hasn’t forgotten about the Goodfellas star even if the Academy did.
DeeDee Benkie Calls Out The Oscars
Sorvino’s widow, Dee Dee, wasn’t as subtle with her reproach of the Academy as she called the Oscars Unconscionable. The author wasn’t pleased with the QR code at the end of the In Memoriam video, which redirected viewers to a longer list of late Hollywood stars.
Ray Liotta Made It On-Screen
Although the Academy left off Sorvino, it included his Goodfellas co-star Ray Liotta, 68, who died in May, 2022 a few months before the 83-year-old.
Who Else Was Missing?
Other stars who were omitted include Anna Heche, Charlbi Dean Kriek, Tony Sirico, and Pat Carroll.
Kriek died at 32 in 2022 after starring in the Oscar-nominated movie Triangle of Sadness. The fans couldn’t believe that the Academy omitted the South African actress yet recognized her last production.
How Did Paul Die?
Sorvino died at 83 in 2022 of natural causes, according to a statement from his widow Dee Dee. He’d married the author in 2014 after a lengthy period of being single post-divorce from Vanessa Arico.
Dee Dee Corrects A Fan
A fan wrongly sent condolences to Dee Dee calling her Mira’s mother but she corrected them saying that was Lorraine Davis whom Paul married between 1966 and 1988.
Remembering Anne Heche
Another powerhouse missing from the video montage was Anne Heche, famous for Six Days and Seven Nights, and Donnie Brasco. The actress died in 2022 of inhalation, and thermal injuries in a car crash, per the coroner’s report obtained by CNN .
What’s The Criterion For Appearing On-Screen
Despite the Oscars adding a link this year, fans wanted to know what qualified a star to appear in the In Memoriam montage over others. One fan noted that Heche”s omission from the In Memoriam segment was an extension of Hollywood’s reaction to her death.
Leslie Jordan Wasn’t There Either
Leslie Jordan, who also starred in The Help, Will & Grace , and Call me Kat , wasn’t in the video tribute. The late comedian became a worldwide sensation during the pandemic as he kept viewers occupied with his videos.
Losing Tom Sizemore
Tom Sizemore died earlier this month after suffering a stroke and brain aneurysm. The Saving Private Ryan star had a troubled life with several run-ins with the law in his final years, although he attempted to walk the straight and narrow before death.
Who Else Appeared On Screen?
Apart from Olivia newton-John who took the front stage in the In Memoriam segment, other stars on screen included, Mary Routh (Costume Designer,) John Korty (Actor,) Louise Fletcher (Actress,) Bob Rafelson (Director, Writer, and Producer,) and more.
Cancer Gets The Best Of Newton-John
Newton-John died last August after succumbing to Breast Cancer at 73. The Australian actress struggled with the disease since 1992 and managed to live long enough to birth her daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi
Fame From ‘Grease’
The actress gained worldwide acclaim with her 1978 movie, Grease which earned her several Grammys although she never won an Academy Award.
John Travolta Misses His Friend
John Travolta teared up while announcing the In Memoriam segment as he spoke about making lifelong friends from movies and keeping their memories alive long after death.
Gaining Worldwide Fame
Travolta and Newton-John starred in the record-breaking Grease together in the ’70s and it became a defining moment in both their careers.
Travolta’s Emotional Speech
Watch The Full Video Below
Watch the full tribute in the video below
