The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards has faced online backlash after several notable Hollywood and television figures who died over the past year were left out of the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” tribute.
Among the most prominent omissions was actor Chuck Norris, best known for starring in all nine seasons of the CBS action series Walker, Texas Ranger.
Norris died in March at the age of 86 following a hospitalisation in Hawaii. In addition to his long-running role as Cordell Walker, he appeared in television shows including The Goldbergs and Hawaii Five-0.
Nicholas Brendon among notable omissions
Fans also expressed disappointment over the absence of Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon, who died in March at 54.
The omission drew particular attention because the Emmy broadcast featured a reunion tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Anthony Head appearing on stage.
Other television and entertainment figures reportedly absent from the segment included Big Love and Lilo & Stitch: The Series actress Daveigh Chase, who died in June at 35, as well as 30 Rock actor Grizz Chapman.
Actor Patrick Muldoon, known for Starship Troopers and Days of Our Lives, The Gong Show panelist Jaye P. Morgan and actor-director Robert Redford were also not featured.
Emmys honours major Hollywood losses
The ceremony did, however, devote extended tributes to several major figures, including Rob Reiner, Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara.
Other stars recognised during the segment included actress Hayden Panettiere and legendary costume designer Bob Mackie.
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Jamie Lee Curtis delivered a personal tribute to Reiner, describing the late filmmaker and actor as a close friend. Reiner was also recognised posthumously with an Emmy this year.
O’Hara’s former Schitt’s Creek co-stars Annie Murphy and Dan Levy, along with her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin, introduced the broader “In Memoriam” segment.
Fans question omissions
The omissions prompted a wave of criticism on social media, particularly among fans of Norris and Brendon.
One widely shared post questioned why Norris was not included, saying the Emmys had “made a mistake” by leaving him out.
A friend of Daveigh Chase also criticised the decision, telling TMZ that the actress had been “snubbed” from the tribute.
The reaction highlights the challenges award shows face in selecting which individuals to include in annual memorial segments, particularly when the number of notable entertainment figures who have died during the year is large.
