The 2026 Emmy Awards turned somber Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. During the annual In Memoriam segment, Noah Kahan performed“Bridge Over Troubled Water”while photos of late stars filled the screen. Then Jamie Lee Curtis stepped out, already in tears, to honor director and actor Rob Reiner, calling him generous, kind, funny as hell, and a friend to all. Reiner and his wife Michele were stabbed to death in their home in December 2025, a loss that’s still raw for so many.
The tribute didn’t end there. The montage also remembered Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Sam Neill, Robert Duvall and Ted Turner. Catherine O’Hara and Dolly Parton each received their own separate tributes, and one presenter described Catherine with a single, perfect word: Mom. Mariska Hargitay hosted the night, becoming the first woman to do so in 15 years.
Awards shows can feel like glitz and noise, but this segment reminded everyone watching why these people mattered. They gave us movies we quote, songs we sing, and characters that felt like family. Which tribute got you the most? Tell us in the comments.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
