2014 Emmys: Robin Williams, Paul Walker, Don Pardo, more honored during ‘In Memoriam’

We knew that there would be a very emotional point in the 2014 Emmys where the In Memoriam segment ended up airing, and it was just as emotional as we expected.

Some of the names who were honored in the group included Peter O’Toole, Harold Ramis, James Avery, “Saturday Night Live” announcer Don Pardo, Paul Walker, James Garner, and so many others. Asyou would have expected, though, the name that was still the most sensitive to many was Robin Williams.

After the tribute (set to the song “Smile”) finished playing, Billy Crystal came out to honor Robin, who was a close friend of his and who he worked with many times over the years. This was a very beautiful moment from Crytsal. Following this tribute, the show aired a few of Williams’ television appearances over the years. This was a nice way to send him off, and remind everyone watching at home what he meant to the community. This was a way to help many to come with the immediacy of the situation, and for them to mourn together. There were few in this business who were as loved universally as Robin was; not only was he a gifted actor and comedian, but he was also just as much an incredible friend to those who knew him.

We expect that there are still more tributes left to come on awards shows this year, but few more will likely receive the attention that this one got as the first major awards show to recognize him since his passing. (Yes, the MTV Video Music Awards did so briefly, but that’s a little bit of a different situation since it is out of his primary field.)

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