Oscars 2017: Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, Bill Paxton honored In Memoriam

This has been a difficult, emotional year for many out there, and with that the Oscars 2017 In Memoriam segment was meant to offer up a chance to reflect. It’s a powerful part of the show, though at the same time we’re well aware at this point how it has also become a very controversial part over the years, as well.

What’s the reason for that? Well, let’s just say that it has a thing or two with the fact that there’s either always someone excluded, it’s too long, it’s too short, or something in between. Basically, we’re just trying to say that nobody is ever happy.

Here are some of the people honored tonight: Arthur Miller, Ken Adam, Tracy Scott, Bill Nunn, Alice Arlen, George Kennedy, Gene Wilder, Donald P. Harris, Patty Duke, Garry Marshall, Wilma Baker, Janet Patterson, Anton Yelchin, Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, Kenny Baker, John Hurt, Jim Clark, Kit West, Lupita Tovar, Pat Conroy, Nancy Davis Reagan, William Peter Blatty, Ken Howard, Tyrus Wong, Hector Babenco, Curtis Hanson, Marni Nixon, George “Ray” West, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Antony Gibbs, Om Puri, Andrea Jaffe, Richard Portman, Debbie Reynolds, and Carrie Fisher.

We should note here that the names went by extremely quickly, and as a result of that it was impossible to get every person down on this list. Apologies to those left out. One name that Jennifer Aniston specifically mentioned while presenting the performance by Sara Bareilles was Bill Paxton’s. Clearly, there was no way to edit the package together in time to include him prior to the start of the show. It was classy to include him after the fact and recognize the contribution that he made.

This was simple, beautiful, and effective. We’re sure that there were some people in here who should’ve been a part of the segment, but as we’ve said, it’s impossible to include everyone.

Before you go, we recommend that you visit the link here and see some more of our Oscar coverage from the night.

Do you think that the Academy got it right for the most part with their In Memoriam? Share some of your thoughts now in the comments! (Photo: Oscars.)