These artists featured in Oscars’21: In Memoriam
First featured in 1978, the In Memoriam is an important aspect of the Academy Award ceremony.
Because of a huge gap and, maybe, the pandemic, this year saw an upsurge in the number of the deceased actors, writers, directors and other artistes, including Julie Bennett, Warren Berlinger, Walter Bernstein, Chadwick Boseman, Wilford Brimley, Allan Burns, Edd Byrnes, Lewis John Carlino, Jean-Claude Carrière, Marge Champion, Sean Connery, Linda Cristal, Olivia de Havilland, Brian Dennehy, Kirk Douglas, Marj Dusay, John Ericson, Harriet Frank Jr., David Giler, Stuart Gordon, Robert Harper, Ronald Harwood, Monte Hellman, Buck Henry, Richard T. Herd, Hal Holbrook, Israel Horovitz, Peter H. Hunt, Robert C. Jones, Jack Kehoe, Irrfan Khan, Bruce Kirby, Shirley Knight, Cloris Leachman, William Link, Kurt M. Luedtke, Helen McCrory, Larry McMurtry, Terrence McNally, Loring Mandel, Malcolm Marmorstein, Jiri Menzel, Alan Parker, Christopher Plummer, Kelly Preston, Elsa Raven, Carl Reiner, Gene Reynolds, Allan Rich, Peter Mark Richman, Diana Rigg, Joe Ross, Reni Santoni, John Saxon, Murray Schisgal, Joel Schumacher, George Segal, John Herman Shaner, Lynn Shelton, Geno Silva, Joan Micklin Silver, Bertrand Tavernier, Cicely Tyson, Max von Sydow, Jessica Walter, Stuart Whitman, Fred Willard.
Their work would always remain immortal and their presence will always be missed.
Here’s stories of a handful of these artists.
Sean Connery
Last October, we lost the original James Bond. The Scottish award-winning actor’s son Jason Connery informed BBC of his father’s peaceful demise at 90. He breathed his last at his home in the Bahamas after having been “unwell for some time.”
In 1988,Sean won the best supporting actor Academy Award for “The Untouchables”. The present 007 Daniel Craig recalls his predecessor as “He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike for years to come. … Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.”
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson passed away this year on January 28 at 96. As history remembers , in 2018 she became the first Black woman to have received an honorary Academy Award. She’d won 3 Emmy awards and over 16 Emmy nominations, a Tony award and an Oscar nomination to her credit.
Allen Daviau
Having earned five Academy Award nominations, Cinematographer Allen Daviau succumbed to Covid last year at 77. “His warmth and humanity were as powerful as his lens. He was a singular talent and a beautiful human being,” Steven Spielberg said in his remembrance.
Earl Cameron
Being credited as one of the first black actors to perform in mainstream British films and TV shows, Earl Cameron died last July at 102. His famous works in the 1965 James Bond movie “Thunderball”, Sydney Pollack’s “The Interpreter” and Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” would always be cherished. In 2006, he got the position of a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire..
Shirley Knight
The two-time Academy Award nominee Shirley Knight died due to natural causes last April. Having appeared in “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs,” “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Dutchman”, she had won a bunch of big awards including aTony, an Emmy, and Golden Globe awards.
