The "In Memoriam" segment of the Oscars is always controversial, as not every celebrity who has died over the past year is recognized. Over at Vulture, they've compiled a list of some of the more notable names missing this year: Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch, Richard Kiel, Gottfried John, and Taylor Negron.
Rivers was never nominated for an Academy Award, but she was a staple on the red carpet and responsible for pre-show coverage being what it is today. Stritch had a 60-year career with supporting roles in A Farewell to Arms and Providence, John was part of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's repertory players, Kiel was famous for playing henchmen, and Negron was a character actor.
So, who decides which stars make the cut? A committee made up from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who pick about 40 people from 300 or so submissions. The final montage is put together weeks in advance of the show, Entertainment Weekly reports, and very, very rarely are people added after it has been finished.
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