The 2026 Oscars packed a year of losses into its In Memoriam segment on Sunday as the Academy celebrated the lives and careers of late Hollywood greats, including acclaimed director Rob Reiner, actresses Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, actors Robert Redford and Robert Duvall, and others.

The segment remembering Reiner, who was found dead in his California home with his wife, Michele Singer, in an apparent homicide last December, was particularly powerful. It began with Billy Crystal paying tribute to the director-actor and his wife in a personal speech that touched on nearly all of Reiner’s films, from This Is Spinal Tap and Stand By Me to The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally.

Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Jerry O'Connell, Wil Wheaton, Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollak, Kathy Bates, Annette Bening and John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga at the 98th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California.

Crystal told the crowd how he had befriended Reiner on the set of All in the Family, before recounting Reiner’s storied film career. He also lauded the couple’s efforts fighting social injustice in the world, including their campaigning for marriage equality.

 

“Their loss is immeasurable,” Crystal said. “And to the millions who have enjoyed his films over the years, I want you to know here and around the world how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you. And for us, who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.’”

Then a who’s who of about 20 actors who appeared in Reiner’s movies including Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Jerry O’Connell, Fred Savage, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, and John Cusack emerged from backstage to stand side by side and honor Reiner.

Rob Reiner honored by Billy Crystal in emotional Oscars tribute - ABC30 Fresno

Following the Reiner tribute and the first round of In Memoriam remembrances, Rachel McAdams honored actresses “whose talent and originality widened the world for all of us.” She named Claudia Cardinale, Diane Ladd, and “our mighty wind,” Catherine O’Hara, ending with “the icon,” Diane Keaton. “For over 50 years, [Keaton was] luminous onscreen and indelible in life, believe me when I say there isn’t an actress of my generation who is not inspired by and enthralled by her absolute singularly,” McAdams said. Shortly after, another luminary, Barbra Streisand, came out to pay tribute to Robert Redford, delivering a speech and singing a snippet of “The Way We Were.”

During the In Memoriam, the Academy Awards also honored Val Kilmer, Michael Madsen, Graham Greene, Terence Stamp, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and many others who died this past year.