The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spoke about why actors Luke Perry and Cameron Boyce were absent from the 2020 Oscars‘ In Memoriam tribute in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday.
“The Academy receives hundreds of requests to include loved ones and industry colleagues in the Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ segment,” the statement read. “An executive committee representing every branch considers the list and makes selections for the telecast based on limited available time. All the submissions are included on Oscar.com.”
The Academy includes an annual In Memoriam segment on the Oscars telecast, paying tribute to film and television stars, directors, producers, writers, cinematographers, artists, designers, and other notable Hollywood figures who have passed away over the last year. This past Sunday, at the 2020 Oscars, Billie Eilish performed the Beatles’ “Yesterday” over a slideshow of Kobe Bryant, Agnes Varda, Kirk Douglas, and others.
Now two of the most creative and talented men I have ever known, loved, and lost have not been mentioned in the #oscars memoriam. First, my Dad Aaron Spelling who passed in 2006 and now my friend Luke Perry who passed in 2019. 😢
— Tori Spelling (@torispelling) February 11, 2020
Following the telecast, there were concerns that Perry, star of Riverdale and Beverly Hills, 90210, had been excluded from the tribute, as well as Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce. 90210 alum Tori Spelling and Boyce’s Jessie co-star Skai Jackson both expressed their disappointment over the exclusions on Twitter.
Boyce passed away last July, at only 20, from complications due to epilepsy. Perry lost his life last March from suffering a stroke at age 52.
The full tribute gallery, containing 164 slides and including Perry and Boyce, is currently featured on the Academy’s website.
