The Emmys 2026 In Memoriam segment honoured several major television figures who died during the past year, but viewers quickly noticed that a number of familiar names were missing from the televised tribute.
Among those not shown were Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon, Walker, Texas Ranger star Chuck Norris, actor and filmmaker Robert Redford, and several other performers and television professionals.
The omissions sparked discussion among viewers and fans following the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026. However, the Television Academy maintains a more extensive online In Memoriam database that includes additional industry figures.
Which Stars Were Missing From the Emmys 2026 In Memoriam?
The televised tribute could not include every television professional who died during the eligibility period.
Nicholas Brendon was among the most noticeable omissions. The actor, best known for playing Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died on March 20, 2026, at age 54. The Television Academy lists Brendon in its official In Memoriam database.
His absence was particularly notable because Buffy costars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz appeared during the ceremony. The pair acknowledged the recent losses connected to the show’s cast and crew.
Chuck Norris Was Also Absent
Chuck Norris, best known to television audiences as Cordell Walker on Walker, Texas Ranger, was another major name missing from the televised montage.
Norris died in March 2026 at age 86. His television career included the long-running Walker, Texas Ranger, making his absence noticeable to many viewers. Reports following the ceremony highlighted the omission.
Robert Redford Was Not Included in the Broadcast Montage
Robert Redford was also absent from the televised Emmy tribute.
Although Redford became one of Hollywood’s best-known film stars, he had a substantial television history. His early acting work included appearances in programmes such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone and Perry Mason. He later remained connected to television through acting and producing projects.
Redford died on September 16, 2025, shortly after the previous year’s Emmy ceremony. He was subsequently remembered at the 2026 Academy Awards, but he did not appear in the Emmy broadcast’s In Memoriam montage.
Other Television Figures Were Missing Too
The list extended beyond Brendon, Norris and Redford.
Reports identified several other names absent from the televised tribute, including Patrick Muldoon, Daveigh Chase, Grizz Chapman, Tom Kane and Jaye P. Morgan.
Daveigh Chase was known for her work across film and television, including her role as the voice of Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and appearances in television programmes.
Patrick Muldoon had credits including Days of Our Lives, while Grizz Chapman was recognised for his work on 30 Rock. Voice actor Tom Kane was known for extensive animation and voice work.
Peter Cullen, another prominent voice performer, was also absent from the broadcast. His death fell outside the Academy’s stated eligibility cutoff by one day, according to TVLine.
Why Were Some Stars Left Out?
The Television Academy has explained that the televised In Memoriam segment has unavoidable time limitations.
For the 78th Emmy Awards, the Academy said the televised tribute covered people who passed away between August 27, 2025, and August 25, 2026. It also noted that the broadcast cannot include every eligible television professional who died during that period.
That does not mean omitted names were forgotten entirely.
The Television Academy maintains a separate, more comprehensive In Memoriam database where television industry professionals can be recognised beyond the names shown during the broadcast.
Who Was Honoured During the 2026 Emmy Tribute?
Despite the omissions, the televised segment featured several emotional tributes.
Catherine O’Hara received a special remembrance involving Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy. O’Hara’s work connected her to both film and television audiences across generations.
Rob Reiner was remembered by Jamie Lee Curtis during the ceremony. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, died in December 2025.
The programme also featured a separate tribute to Dolly Parton, with Sally Field introducing the remembrance and Reba McEntire performing.
The main In Memoriam montage featured a musical performance from Noah Kahan, accompanying the tribute to television figures who had died during the eligibility period.
The Emmys 2026 In Memoriam Has Started a Wider Conversation
The response to the segment shows how difficult it can be for major award ceremonies to acknowledge a large number of deaths within a limited broadcast.
For fans, however, the absence of a name from the televised montage can be especially noticeable when the person had a long television career.
The Television Academy’s online database provides a broader record of the professionals remembered by the organisation. As a result, the broadcast segment represents only part of the Academy’s overall In Memoriam recognition.
The 2026 ceremony therefore became notable not only for the stars it remembered on television but also for the familiar names viewers noticed were missing.