Only at the Oscars can grief turn into a formatting debate.
Viewers erupted after reports claimed the 2026 Oscars In Memoriam left out Eric Dane and James Van Der Beek. If true, it’s the most avoidable kind of heartbreak: an editing decision masquerading as a eulogy. My take: the segment isn’t heartless; the process is opaque. Publish the full list, show the criteria, add a QR code, and stop forcing families to crowdsource closure.
The Moment
According to a report published Monday and a flurry of social media posts, both Dane (best known for Grey’s Anatomy and later film turns) and Van Der Beek (forever Dawson, with solid movie credits) were missing from this year’s on-air remembrance.
The Oscars traditionally run a brief, beautifully produced montage during the telecast-names, faces, tears, music. Within minutes of the segment airing, freeze-frames and side-by-sides were circulating, alleging the omissions and demanding answers.
Oscars in memoriam snubs include James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane. Check it out: https://t.co/wH9Cf7nQhz pic.twitter.com/vIB9bGy145
— Complex (@Complex) March 16, 2026
As of publication, we have not seen an on-record statement from the Academy addressing these specific names or releasing the complete list used for the broadcast. We’ll reassess if and when an official response lands.
The Take
Every March, the Oscars try to fit a year of loss into three delicate minutes. It’s like shoving a family photo album into the tiny frame that came with your wallet; somebody’s getting cut off, and everyone feels it.
Why do these controversies keep happening? Time limits, rights clearances, and-let’s be honest-the Academy’s lingering film-first gaze. That lens made more sense when TV and film were separate planets. In the streaming era, that wall is drywall at best. Actors move fluidly between media; their cultural footprint doesn’t stop at the multiplex.
Dane and Van Der Beek both have bona fide film ties (think ensemble rom-coms, late-’90s/early-’00s cult favorites) that connect them to the Oscars’ ecosystem. When talents with crossover careers appear absent, it reads less like curation and more like gatekeeping grief.
There’s a humane fix hiding in plain sight. The Academy already keeps a longer In Memoriam roll online; make that the default, not the asterisk. Publish the full list well before the telecast. Spell out the criteria-eligibility window, film/industry thresholds, who decides, and how ties break. Then, during the live show, run the curated montage and put a QR code on-screen linking to the complete roll call. No more guessing, no more freeze-frame outrage.
“Grief deserves clarity, not a guessing game.”
Receipts
Confirmed
- The Oscars include an In Memoriam montage every year during the telecast, and the Academy maintains a longer memorial roll online, noting that the broadcast cannot include everyone (per the Academy’s official materials; ongoing practice, accessed March 16, 2026).
- The 2026 Academy Awards aired on ABC in mid-March from Los Angeles, featuring a live In Memoriam performance segment (ABC/Academy Awards broadcast, U.S. telecast March 15, 2026).
Unverified/Reported
- A widely circulated entertainment report on March 16, 2026, states Eric Dane, 53, and James Van Der Beek, 48, died in February 2026 and were omitted from the on-air In Memoriam. We have not independently confirmed their passing or the omission; awaiting on-record confirmation from family representatives or the Academy.
- Viewer posts on major social platforms flagged alleged omissions during the segment; these posts are not official records and remain unverified.
- The same report also cites other show moments (including a major acting win and a tribute segment) that we have not independently confirmed at press time.
Backstory (For the Casual Reader)
Eric Dane broke out as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy and later drew a new wave of attention with gritty cable work; on the film side, he turned up in glossy ensemble fare and studio dramas. James Van Der Beek became a pop-culture staple as Dawson Leery in the late ’90s, then surprised skeptics with big-screen projects like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, plus a steady run of TV arcs and competition-show turns. Every few years, the Oscars’ In Memoriam ignites similar outrage-remember when a beloved late star tied to a Best Picture nominee was missing from the on-air segment? The Academy’s standing explanation: limited time, curated choices on the broadcast, fuller roll online. Which is sensible-until it’s your favorite face that fades from the screen.
So yes, honor is a finite resource on live TV. But respect shouldn’t be. The Academy can keep the montage cinematic and still make the process transparent. Grief is hard enough without needing a search party to find the names.
What’s the fairest fix: longer on-air segment, stricter criteria, or a full public roll with a QR code while the broadcast stays curated?
Sources:
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Official In Memoriam resources (accessed March 16, 2026).
- ABC/Academy Awards U.S. telecast (March 15, 2026).
- Widely circulated entertainment report (March 16, 2026).
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