Academy: Farrah Fawcett Omitted Because of TV-Heavy Career

By Bryan Alexander Posted Mar 9th 2010 08:18PM

Farrah Fawcett was left off the 'In Memoriam' segment of the 82nd Academy Awards because she was an actress better known for her television work, the executive director of the film academy said on Tuesday.

The controversial decision to leave the 'Charlie's Angels' star off the list was the result of a long discussion, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences executive director Bruce Davis told the Associated Press.

Fawcett was best known for her "remarkable television work," he said, and would be more appropriately honored by the television academy at the Emmy Awards. The Academy Awards recognizes achievement in movies.

"In every category, you're going to miss some wonderful people," said Davis, who has helped assemble Oscar's 'In Memoriam' montage since it began in 1993.

Fawcett had movie roles in 'Logan's Run,' 'The Apostle' and 'Extremities.' Her omission from the Oscar memorial list has sparked outrage on the Internet and from her family, who said in a statement that they were "deeply saddened."

When asked why Michael Jackson was included when actors were left out, Davis explained that Jackson had appeared in a popular theatrical film recently ('This is It'). Fawcett and Jackson both died on June 25.

"Think of all the blogging we would have gotten if we had left him out!" he said.

Tags: primacy_movies

Comments

(130)

Tuesday 09 March

By Allegreta

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While it was an unfortunate error on the Academy's part to leave Farrah's name off their memorial list, look how much more she is remembered by her public because of it. She would be proud to know her fans haven' forgotten her even if the Academy has. Shame on you Hollywood.

Friday 12 March

By CommanderAl

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I very much agree with you. Shame on the Academy but yes because of Farrah being snubbed she seems to be remembered all the much more at least on the WWW.

By donna

Farrah's omission was a HUGE mistake on the part of the Academy and they're too freaking arrogant to admit it!

By Tom

The academy is a liberal, anti-Christian organization. Farrah Fawcet, during her last days which was televised, prayed the rosary and returned to her Catholic roots. There is no other logical explanation for leaving her out.

By Todd Harris

I was Farrah's Agent at The William Morris Agency. I was a Motion Picture Agent and Head of The Motion Picture Directors Division. She was a brilliant actress who was respected by most of my associates in Film and Television . I also represented Robert Duvall who cast her in the Apostle with other brilliant actors that he respected. Most of whom had either been nominated or won major award's in the Motion Picture Industry. She was herself nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for that film. It is very sad that her memory was omitted during the Academy Awards. She was loved by so many people all over the world. I travelled with her often and she was a remarkable and special person. We miss her and it would have been very nice to see her one last time. She was a major talent in film, television as well as a brilliant sculpture and painter. God bless her!!

By Val

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I did not watch the awards simply because I don't care who wins and who doesn't I rarely agree with the choices. However, I sure have heard the gritching about Farrah being left out and Michael Jackson was listed. Well, here I go. Neither should have been left out, nor should the number of others I have heard been left out. It is sad to think that anyone who dedicated their lives to TV or Film or Music to make others feel good, or to help them enjoy life would not be honored in some way at ALL of the awards show. I also feel like it was a very poor excuse to say that Farrah was more recognized for her work on TV. What a slap in the face to her family, friends and fans. It would have sounded far better if they had just made a statement that her omison had been in error and just apologized.

By Jan

I just have a few questions...Was Farrah Fawcett a voting member of the Academy? Was Michael Jackson? I'll bet NO on Michael! But the bottom line to me is how much longer would the show have lasted if they HAD added Farrah and Bea Arthur? Oh yeah....probably less than a minute and a half!! I saw a timeline showing when the major awards were given (all spread over 3 and a half hours)...They surely had plenty of time to add these two ladies to the "In Memorium" presentation! Shame!! Shame!!!!!

By Heather

She was omitted because she wasn't a movie star?? Well then I guess the awesome performance she gave in the burning bed was what?, just a figment of peoples imaginations?

Wednesday 10 March

By Charles Almon

The Burning Bed was a TV movie.
Her omission was a mistake.
But let's not confuse the facts.
Her film career was larger than her TV career.
She was only on Charlie's Angels it first season - one year.

By Michelle

I just wanted to reiterate what everyone is saying. Their is no good reason why they left her off and put Michael in. It would hav been much easier say he wasn't an actor than her. No one considers his movie as him acting.
Their just trying to justify their decision and it's not working. It was bad decision and there's just no excuse.

By BRENDA B. ISIDORE

There are many "slackers" in Hollywood as far as I am concerned. Someone is not doing their homework, or they just really don't care. The people working on this show had more than enough time to do their research.

I live here in New York City. Did they forget that Farrah was in the Broadway production of "The Burning Bed", which got huge awards and was also turned into a movie? This was said to be some of her best work ever. I saw it; she was fantastic!

And just for the record, I am a black woman of mixed ethnicity.
When everyone else was wearing "afros", I had the "Farrah" hair cut designed by Jose Eber. My hair was very long (longer than hers), and I was not going to cut it for an afro. I wore the hairstyle proudly!

By juli

It's all politics anyway. No matter who's performance was technically the best, the academy is going to vote for whoever they like best, or whomever they get kick-backs from.

By Pam

They included some PR guy no one except the insiders would have ever heard of...They should have left him out and included her..That was just plain ignorant.

By we552003

Ignore Farrah? Some clueless academy dip***t should be ashamed. But mention MJ?? Oh yeah, one of the great movie actors of our time. I'm glad I blew it off.

By djd

You got my vote the academy (Bruce Davis) really dropped the ball on this one again Michael Jackson up stagged Farrah. This was so wrong.

By AshbybAshby

Farrah F should have been recognized for her role in "The Burning Bed." As a legal advocate for a women's shelter I believe her role as an abused wife and mother was major in bringing the the problem of domestic violence to the fore front at the time. She "was" so many of the women who fear leaving for so many reasons; for that role alone she should have been remembered

That was not shown in movie theaters. But TV.

By misshavana

It is unfair 2 blame Michael Jackson people. He did not make the decision. Stop making it an either--or situation. The people in charge messed up but Michael Jackson was honored because: 1)This Is It was and is a gargantuan seller and continues to rake it in. 2)He reinvigorated both film and music industries with Thriller. 3)He starred in The Wiz (a musical-movie) 4)His death was sudden and unexpected with NO advance notice. 5)His death was not natural causes. 6)He was murdered. 7)There is no closure yet on MJ. I enjoyed Farrah as much as all of You but the blame goes to the Academy, noone else. Please B kind.

No one is blaming Michael. It is just that people did not do their homework.

Michael was in the movie called "The Wiz", based on the movie "The Wizard Of Oz". This was also first done as a musical on Broadway starring the singer Stephanie Mills back in the 70's.

In the movie, Michael played the "Scarecrow". This is the only movie that I know of that Michael was in.

By Kimberly Chaples

misshavana

Well said.

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