Emmys In Memoriam Excludes Chuck Norris, ‘Buffy’ Actor Nicholas Brendon and More

Actors, executives and creatives across the television business gathered Monday night for the Emmy Awards to recognize the year’s best programs. As it does every year, the ceremony also paid tribute to the actors and others who have died since the last Emmys. But every year, social media users are quick to point out names that were omitted in the interest of time. Despite a tribute to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” earlier in the show, in which it was mentioned that it had been a “tough two years,” Nicholas Brendon‘s name was not included on the screen. This year, fans also called out names like “Walker Texas Ranger” star Chuck Norris, “Days of Our Lives” and “Starship Troopers” actor Patrick Muldoon, “The Gong Show” panelist Jaye P. Morgan, “The Ring” actress Daveigh Chase and “30 Rock” performer Grizz Chapman as not being recognized during the Emmys’ official In Memoriam segment. The In Memoriam portion started out with a tribute to Catherine O’Hara. Her “Schitt’s Creek” co-stars Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin hosted her In Memoriam tribute. Popular on Variety Dolly Parton and Rob Reiner also got segments of their own. More recent losses like Tim Curry, Hayden Panettiere — and even Bob Mackie, who died on Monday, the same day as the ceremony — were also featured. Noah Kahan performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as the names appeared onscreen. Though this year featured more tributes than usual, it’s just not possible to include everyone who died over the course of the past year — including those whose careers were more skewed towards movies or music than television. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also needs to reserve time for the people who created and produced notable television programming, such as “Taxi” and “Cheers” director James Burrows and CNN founder Ted Turner. However, fans can find many of those who didn’t appear onscreen on the TV Academy’s website.