Oscars 2019: Penny Marshall, Stan Lee, Burt Reynolds and More Honored in Touching In Memoriam
The 2019 Oscars honored actors, directors, producers and crew members who passed away with a touching in memoriam during Sunday’s award show, during which the L.A. Philharmonic performed.
Late stars such as Burt Reynolds, Margot Kidder, Stan Lee and Penny Marshall were honored, while other notable mentions like Tab Hunter and Albert Finney were included.
Reynolds died in September at age 82. While the actor and sex symbol experienced health issues such a 2010 bypass surgery and deteriorating mobility over the years, his niece, Nancy Lee Hess, said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time that Reynolds’ death was “totally unexpected.”
The 91st Oscars honors the many talents lost last year with this in memoriam tribute. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/7frUUMqVsK
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 25, 2019
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The late actor starred in numerous westerns throughout the ’70s, and held memorable roles in Deliverance, The Longest Yard and Boogie Nights. At the time of his death, Reynolds, a two-time SAG nominee, had planned to be a part of Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Reynolds had not yet filmed his scenes, and was later replaced by Bruce Dern.
Hollywood mourned Reynolds’ death at the time, with everyone from Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Steve Harvey and Kate Hudson expressing their sadness. “He will be missed,” Eastwood, 90, told PEOPLE, adding that he was “saddened to hear about my friend Burt Reynolds.”
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Marshall, the younger sister of director and producer Garry Marshall, appeared in Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley before transitioning to behind-the-camera work and directing hits like Big and A League of Their Own. She died at 75 in December from complication from diabetes.
Another screen legend, Kidder, died in May at home in Montana at age 69. Her death was ruled a suicide as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose. The actress is best known for playing Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve’s Superman.
The 91st Academy Awards are broadcasting live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24.
