The 2025 Oscars ignited controversy for leaving out actors such as Michelle Trachtenberg, Tony Todd and Olivia Hussey. “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Shannen Doherty was also omitted, which her co-star Jennie Garth called “messed up” when asked by TMZ to give her thoughts on the snub (via People). Garth added that “maybe” the Academy should apologize to Doherty’s family for the exclusion.
Garth and Doherty became teen icons together as stars of “Beverly Hills, 90210.” They were both series regulars for four seasons. Doherty exited the series before Season 5. Garth continued for all 10 seasons. They later reunited as their characters, Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh, for appearances on The CW’s “90210” reboot.
Doherty died in July 2024 after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. In June 2023, she said she had been receiving radiation for cancer that had spread to her brain. She became a popular podcast host in the years before her death thanks to “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” in which she openly discussed how cancer impacted her life.
While Doherty was best known for her work on television in series such as “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” she starred in well over a dozen movies during her acting career such as “Heathers,” “Mallrats” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” among other titles. A week before the Oscars, Doherty was included in the In Memoriam tribute at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
“Harriet the Spy” and “Gossip Girl” star Michelle Trachtenberg died the Wednesday before the Oscars and was also omitted from this year’s In Memoriam segment. Other actors excluded from the montage included Tony Todd, Chance Perdomo, Alain Delon, “Annie Hall” star Tony Roberts, Linda Lavin, James Darren, Mitzi Gaynor, Martin Mull, documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock and “Romeo and Juliet” star Olivia Hussey.
Actors included in the In Memoriam tribute were David Lynch, Maggie Smith, James Earl Jones and Donald Sutherland, among others. Gene Hackman, whose death was also reported a few days before the Oscars, got a special shoutout from Morgan Freeman ahead of the In Memoriam montage.
