The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards paused Sunday for its annual “In Memoriam” segment, honoring television figures who died over the past year, including Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne and Food Network chef Anne Burrell.
The tribute, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, featured a live performance of Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” with country star Lainey Wilson as photos and clips of late actors, producers and industry professionals were shown on the theater’s screens.
Phylicia Rashad, who played Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, introduced the segment and used the moment to remember her onscreen son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died earlier this year at 54. "He was a beloved teenager in a beloved TV series," Rashad said. "Like all our friends and colleagues who transitioned this year, Malcolm-Jamal Warner remains in our hearts."
The montage included dozens of names and images from across television and related entertainment fields. Black Sabbath frontman and reality TV star Ozzy Osbourne, who died July 22 at 76, was shown; his cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease. Anne Burrell, a familiar face on Food Network programs such as Worst Cooks in America and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, was also honored; she died June 17 at 55.
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for roles on Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was remembered after her death Feb. 26 at 39, which the New York City medical examiner said was caused by complications from diabetes mellitus. The sequence also paid tribute to Maggie Smith, who died Sept. 27, 2024, at 89 and was widely recognized for both film and television work, most recently as Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey.
Loretta Swit, who became a household name as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on MAS*H and who won two Emmys for the role, was included; she died May 30 at 85. George Wendt, the actor best known as Norm Peterson on Cheers, was shown as well; Wendt died in May at 76 and had earned multiple Emmy nominations during the sitcom’s run. Faces of other industry figures such as David Lynch, Quincy Jones and Loni Anderson also appeared during the montage.
Despite the broad slate of honorees, some viewers noted omissions and took to social media to express surprise and disappointment. Polly Holliday, the Emmy-winning actress who played Florence "Flo" Castleberry on Alice and who died Sept. 9 at 87, was not included in the televised segment; several viewers referenced the character’s catchphrase in posts criticizing the omission. Hulk Hogan, the wrestler-turned-media personality who died July 24 at 71, also drew comment for not being shown, with some social posts questioning why he was left out while other entertainment figures were honored.
The televised "In Memoriam" is a longstanding Emmy Awards tradition intended to acknowledge the contributions of performers and behind-the-scenes professionals to television. Selections for the segment are made by the Television Academy; the organization did not issue an immediate response to questions about this year’s inclusions or omissions. Viewers and industry participants have in past years debated the scope of such tributes and which figures are included in the televised montage.
As the performance concluded Sunday night, Rashad offered a final reflection on the purpose of the tribute. "Tonight, as is tradition at the Emmys, we remember them not only for their immense talent, but the way they made us bigger," she said. The segment closed with images of those honored and applause from the Peacock Theater audience, underscoring the entertainment community’s ritual of remembrance amid ongoing discussion about who is remembered on television’s biggest night.