During the recently held 2023 Academy Awards, a segment was dedicated to beloved actors and actresses who lost their lives over the last year. During the “In Memoriam” segment, entertainment icons living showed love to their peers who have moved on from this world. Actor John Travolta introduced the emotional segment, which also featured a performance from Lenny Kravitz. However, John struggled to control his emotions and choked up during his speech. Find out more below.
John Gets On Stage To Introduce The Emotional Segment
The 2023 Oscars held at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023. While there were many eye-catching moments, one of the standout moments was when John took to the stage to introduce the In Memoriam segment.
John’s Emotional Message
John began his emotional introductory speech by noting that Hollywood stars had the rare luxury of doing what they do for a living and sometimes doing it with people they end up loving.
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John continued his speech by saying, “And since tonight is a celebration of the work and the accomplishments of our community in this past year, it is only fitting then that we celebrate those we’ve lost, who dedicated their lives to their craft, both in front of and behind the camera.”
John Lauds Deceased Stars
The Broken Arrow actor said that the deceased stars, through their immeasurable contributions, had left indelible marks that shared and informed those they left behind.
John Says The Late Icons Touched Hearts
Going on, John said the deceased icons touched hearts, made people smile, and became dear friends.
John Struggles With His Emotions
While giving his speech, John’s voice cracked as tears welled up in his ears, adding to the emotions that had already overtaken the event venue.
John Makes Promise Of Devotion
John concluded his emotional speech by promising that the Hollywood stars alive would remain “hopelessly devoted” to their colleagues who have died.
John Pays Tribute To ‘Grease’ Co-star
John’s emotional “In Memoriam” introduction paid tribute to Olivia-Newton John, who starred alongside him in the 1978 musical Grease and sang Hopelessly Devoted to You.
John Introduces Lenny Kravitz
After captivating the audience’s hearts with his moving speech, John introduced singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz, who gave a heartfelt performance of his song, Calling All Angels.
Which Stars Were Honored At The 2023 Oscars In Memoriam
The 2023 Oscars In Memoriam paid tribute to several deceased filmmakers, entertainers, actors, and actresses with Oscar Award wins or nominations.
Burt Bacharach And Irene Cara Remembered
Singer-songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach, who won three Oscar Awards and died at 94 on February 8, 2023, was remembered during the In Memoriam segment. Also, Oscar Award-winning singer Irene Cara, who passed away on November 25, 2022, was remembered.
Vangelis, Louise Fletcher, And Angela Lansbury Remembered
The beloved electronic composer Vangelis, who died in May 2022 at 79, and Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher were honored during the In Memoriam, in addition to Oscar-nominated icons Angela Lansbury and James Caan.
Other Late Icons Remembered
Other deceased legends who were honored during the 2023 Oscars In Memoriam segment include French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, German-born director Wolfgang Petersen, Ray Liotta, Raquel Welch, and many others.
Who Was Missing From The 2023 Oscars In Memoriam?
Although the 2023 Oscars paid tribute to many legends who lost their lives over the past year, there was still some notable names mission from the list.
Tom Sizemore Not Included In The Tribute
One of the notable absentee names from the tribute was Tom Sizemore, who died at 61 in March 2023 due to a brain aneurysm.
Anne Heche Also Missing From The Tribute
In addition to Tom, actress Ann Hech, who lost her life at 53 due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries following a car crash in August 2023, was also not part of the In Memoriam tribute.
Other Stars Not Included In The 2023 Oscars In Memoriam
Other notable absentees from the 2023 Oscars In Memoriam tribute include Call Me Kat actress Leslie Jordan, Goodfellas actor Paul Sorvino, and Charlbi Dean, whose last movie, Triangle of Sadness, was nominated for three awards on the night.
Lisa Marie Presley Also Missing
Most notably, the late actress, singer, and songwriter Lisa Marie Presley was missing from the memorable tribute, alongside Gibert Gottfried, Estelle Harris, and John Aniston.
Academy Awards Honors Deceased Stars On Its Website
In addition to the In Memoriam presentation during the Awards night, the Academy Awards also paid tribute to the deceased stars through an In Memoriam tribute on its website.