Following a wave of online backlash, a source close to the Oscars has lifted the lid on the selection process behind the ceremony’s famed In Memoriam segment.
James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane were both notably excluded from the 2026 montage, which featured Hollywood stars, directors and crew who’ve died in the past 12 months, honouring their lasting contribution to the industry at large.
Watch the video above.
Speaking to US Weekly, the source associated with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has revealed the reason Van Der Beek and Dane’s names weren’t on the list this year.
James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane were both omitted from the Oscars’ ‘In Memoriam’ segment. (Getty)
The popular – though often derided – segment got its start over 30 years ago in 1994, with the inaugural feature spotlighting names such as Audrey Hepburn, River Phoenix and John Candy. 
According to the source, the Academy receives “hundreds of requests to include loved ones and industry colleagues” for a featured In Memoriam nod each awards season.
To narrow down the many requests, a top-secret “executive committee” made up of representative members from every branch of the Academy is formed.
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The tribute honours the legacy of notable Hollywood performers and crew who’ve died in the past year. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
It is said this committee then whittles down the list of submissions to just 40-50 select names, who are then honoured in the contentious segment.
The process is discussed and scrutinised by the public on an annual basis, with many chastising the secretive selection criteria, and its exclusion of many notable deaths.
The criteria in question is said to focus on the individual’s contributions to the film industry – and historically, this has meant that those known best for television work may be omitted, even if they had notable roles in film.
However, those who don’t make the cut for a feature on the live broadcast are instead honoured on the Oscars website, where their names remain for the duration of the year.
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The uproar over perceived snubs is a yearly affair, with notable past exclusions including actresses Michelle Trachtenberg and Shannen Doherty just last season.
The deaths of both Dane and Van Der Beek sent shockwaves across the industry last month, with both succumbing to terminal illnesses within just eight days of one another.
Dane had faced a 10-month battle with progressive neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while Van Der Beek passed following a years-long battle with stage three colorectal cancer.
They were best known for their breakout roles in Dawson’s Creek (Van Der Beek) and Grey’s Anatomy (Dane).
The two actors, pictured on the red carpet, died within eight days of one another last month. (Penske Media via Getty Images)
After noticing both actors were excluded from In Memoriam, fans were quick to express their disappointment online.
“I know every year, the Oscars leaves out a few people who passed away. But these 3 were so recent,” one user wrote via X.
“I’m sad they left out James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, and Robert Carradine. RIP.”
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