As you probably remember, 2016 was a particular dark year in terms of celebrity deaths. But the start of the Oscars 2017 "In Memoriam" segment honored a very recent 2017 death: Bill Paxton.
Presenter Jennifer Aniston teared up when mentioning Paxton's death -- just announced earlier today ---- before the pre-taped video played, and Sara Bareilles sang a stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."
Jennifer Aniston remembers Bill Paxton, who passed away today at the age of 61 https://t.co/YN5vKbdGiW #Oscars http://pic.twitter.com/WnUsjygSse
— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2017
The video was a moving reminder of how many stars we've lost in the past year, ending with "Star Wars" icon Carrie Fisher -- who died in December 2016 -- saying "May the Force be with you."
Sara Bareilles covering Joni Mitchell is a bomb designed to destroy me. #Oscars
— MAX IM A KOOPA (@meakoopa) February 27, 2017
#Oscars "In Memoriam" segment honors Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher http://pic.twitter.com/gKmDUouE2a
— Variety (@Variety) February 27, 2017
Bill Nunn. Gene Wilder. Patty Duke. Mary Tyler Moore. Prince. Zsa Zsa Gabor. Debbie Reynolds. Carrie Fisher. #InMemoriam #Oscars
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) February 27, 2017
May the force be with you too, Princess #Oscars http://pic.twitter.com/ATRp7glw04
— FilmAffinity (@Filmaffinity) February 27, 2017
I held it together and then Carrie said may the force be with you...and I lost it...#Oscars
— Dashing @PAX East (@DashingSoulJay) February 27, 2017
Ah damnit they got me again. #Oscars http://pic.twitter.com/MKOOOiGTmc
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) February 27, 2017
John Hurt.#Oscars http://pic.twitter.com/v9G9ZFqzd3
— FYFantasticBeasts (@FYfantastic) February 27, 2017
RIP Gene Wilder, you truly were a Wizard among Muggles. #Oscars http://pic.twitter.com/qZSSklkwCV
— Professor Snape (@_Snape_) February 27, 2017
Watch the whole montage:
#Oscars in memoriam. https://t.co/aYPinAW8CL http://pic.twitter.com/ylQd41PKg4
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 27, 2017
Of course, fans will be upset at certain "snubs" but you also have to keep in mind that some celebs (like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Leonard Nimoy) were honored at last year's Oscars.
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