The 2026 Emmy Awards In Memoriam segment is facing heavy criticism after it failed to include Chuck Norris and Nicholas Brendon. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, which aired on Monday, September 14, featured a lengthy tribute with a performance by Noah Kahan, but the absence of these two well-known television actors sparked immediate frustration online.
The In Memoriam Segment and Its Notable Absences
The annual tribute honored many late stars, including Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara, and Rob Reiner, who each received special stand-alone moments. Noah Kahan performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as the names and faces of those lost appeared on screen.
However, Chuck Norris, who died on March 19, 2026, at the age of 86, was not among them. Norris was a television icon, starring in all nine seasons of the CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger. His omission was particularly noticeable given his long history in television.
Nicholas Brendon, who died on March 20, 2026, at the age of 54, was also left out. Brendon was best known for playing Xander Harris across all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and later had a recurring role on Criminal Minds. The omission was especially jarring because the same broadcast included a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reunion to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary, with stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz on stage.
Other names not included in the televised segment were Robert Redford, Patrick Muldoon, Daveigh Chase, Peter Cullen, and Tom Kane.
Fan Reactions: “The In Memoriam Made a Mistake”
Viewers took to social media to share their disappointment. Many fans expressed disbelief that Norris, a major television star, was excluded. One widely shared post on X read:
“Chuck Norris didn’t make the In Memoriam. The In Memoriam made a mistake.”
Another user wrote:
“Snubbing Chuck Norris from In Memoriam at the Emmys is the dumbest move of the night.”
The omission of Nicholas Brendon also hit a nerve, particularly due to the Buffy reunion that took place during the ceremony. One fan commented:
“Having a Buffy reunion on stage and then leaving out Nicholas Brendon is crazy work.”
Another wrote:
“HOW do you not include Nicholas Brendon in the In Memoriam?! SHAME ON YOU.”
Daveigh Chase, who died in June 2026 at age 35, was another notable omission. Her manager and friend, Johnny Ryan, told TMZ:
“These f—king Emmys snubbed Daveigh from the In Memoriam. Awful.”
What the Television Academy Has Said
Ahead of the ceremony, Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego explained that the number of notable deaths made it impossible to include everyone in the televised segment. He told CNN and Variety that “so many big iconic names” had died and that it was “not feasible” to include them all.
While Norris, Brendon, Chase, and others were not part of the broadcast montage, several were recognized on the Television Academy’s searchable online In Memoriam tribute. This online version offers a longer dedication that features more names than the televised segment.
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Who Was Honored During the Broadcast
The televised In Memoriam segment paid tribute to a long list of television figures. Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy introduced the segment with tributes to Catherine O’Hara before Jamie Lee Curtis delivered a tribute to Rob Reiner. Sally Field and Reba McEntire honored Dolly Parton, with McEntire singing “Appalachian Memories”.
Others featured in the broadcast montage included Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Anthony Head, Robert Duvall, Sam Neill, Diane Ladd, Tim Curry, Ted Turner, James Burrows, and Bob Mackie, who died on the day of the ceremony.
The 2026 Emmys In Memoriam segment ran for more than 10 and a half minutes, making it one of the longest in recent years, yet the omissions still left many viewers feeling that the tribute fell short.
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The Emmys In Memoriam debate continues to spark conversation among TV fans. For more entertainment news and updates, stay tuned to VvipTimes.
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