Hulk Hogan, Polly Holliday Omitted
This year’s Emmys featured an emotional good-bye to some of the TV world’s biggest stars and creators. The moving tribute unfurled while the song “Go Rest High on the Mountain,” sung by Lainey Wilson and Vince Gill, was playing.
But actors including “Alice” star Polly Holliday, who died Sept. 9, wrestler and actor Hulk Hogan, “What’s Happening” star Danielle Spencer, Graham Greene, Tony Todd and “General Hospital” star Leslie Charleson were left off. Also missing from the segment were “King of the Hill” actor Jonathan Joss, Lynne Marie Stewart of “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” and “Dennis the Menace” himself, Jay North.
Introducing the segment onstage was Phylicia Rashad, who remembered her “Cosby Show” son Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who died July 20.
“Malcolm-Jamal Warner remains in our hearts,” Rashad said.
Stars like “Downton Abbey” dowager Maggie Smith, “Good Times” actor John Amos, “MASH” veteran Loretta Swit and musician and reality star Ozzy Osbourne were remembered along with behind-the-scenes talent like “Twin Peaks” creator David Lynch. The segment ended with the final slide dedicated to composer Quincy Jones.
Other actors who received Emmy tributes this year included Linda Lavin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Richard Chamberlain and Loni Anderson.
However, several major actors who worked mostly in film, such as Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer and Terence Stamp, were not included.
Every year, fans criticize when some of their favorite actors aren’t included during the In Memoriam portion. Often, this is due to time constraints, as the segment is only a few minutes long. Sometimes, actors and others who are known more in the movie or music worlds are left off the list, even if they’ve appeared on television several times. And timing also plays a role – though the TV Academy is able to add to the segment up until a week or so before the ceremony, many viewers forget that actors who died earlier in 2024, including Shannen Doherty, Phil Donahue and Richard Simmons, were already remembered at last year’s Emmys.
