Billy Crystal began the lengthy In Memoriam segment with a tribute to his "best friend" Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele in their home last year. The actor spoke to the profound impact the legendary director had on audiences and those who worked with him.
Crystal, who starred in Reiner's beloved film When Harry Met Sally, outlined the director's extraordinary filmography, citing Stand by Me and The Princess Bride as works that would endure.
"My friend, Rob's movies will last for lifetimes. Because they were about what makes you laugh and cry, and what we aspire to be."Crystal recalled the personal cost of loss, noting he was one of the first at the scene when Reiner and his wife were discovered in their Brentwood home. On December 14, 2025, American filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead with multiple sharp force injuries at their home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, California.
Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested later that day and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. The tragedy cut short the career of a man whose work spanning four decades had shaped American cinema through satire, sentiment and moral clarity.
The ceremony then moved to acknowledge other losses. Rachel McAdams appeared on stage to remember Catherine O'Hara and Diane Keaton, who worked across multiple generations. Catherine Anne O'Hara was a Canadian and American actress and comedian, whose career spanned over 50 years. O'Hara's immediate cause of death was listed as pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause. She died on January 30.
McAdams, who appeared alongside Keaton in The Family Stone, spoke to their enduring influence on younger performers.
"For over 50 years, luminous on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say there isn't an actress of my generation who is not inspired by and enthralled with her absolute singularity."McAdams also honoured O'Hara's versatility, calling her a "comedic genius and scene stealer."
Barbra Streisand paid heartfelt tribute to her late The Way We Were co-star Robert Redford and then sang a passage from its Oscar-winning theme song. The musical tribute underscored the personal connections these performers maintained across decades of collaboration and friendship. Streisand's performance marked one of the evening's most poignant moments, connecting the audience to the emotional weight of loss in an industry built on personal relationships and shared creative vision.
The In Memoriam segment served as more than ceremonial acknowledgment; it reflected the costs of mortality in an industry where longevity and continued productivity define many careers. Each tribute acknowledged not just the professional achievements of the departed, but their humanity and influence on colleagues and audiences alike.