Oscars Omit Van Der Beek, Dane in Memoriam

0:00This is Corey with the story, here with your quick two-minute update from Durham News today. Fans were upset after noticing James Bander-Beak and Eric Dane missing from the 2026 Oscars in Memorial Segment. The emotional tribute aired on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring industry figures who passed away over the past year. Both actors died just weeks earlier, but did not get spotlighted during the live show. A source explained to us weekly that the Academy gets hundreds of requests for inclusions each year. An executive committee with members from every branch reviews them and makes recommendations based on limited airtime. This helps decide who appears on the telecast. Online backlash was swift, with fans voicing disappointment on social media. Many pointed out the recent deaths of Bander-Beak, Dane, and others like Robert Karadine. Viewers felt it was especially tough to overlook such prominent names from shows like Dawson's Creek and Grey's Anatomy. Bander-Beak was 48 when he died in February after fighting colorectal cancer.

1:04He left behind his wife Kimberly and their six kids aged 4 to 15. Dane passed at 53 from ALS about a week later, survived by wife Rebecca Gayhart and daughters Villy and Georgia both teenagers. Those not featured live still appear on the Oscars website Tribute page where all submissions stay up for the year. The Academy has not commented yet, but the process aims to balance many worthy names in a short segment. The Daily News Now is made possible with support from our sponsor. If sleep podcasts are your thing, this is your pillow, built for comfort and calm, S-O-L-L-I, solely pillow.com.