Billy Crystal and Barbra Streisand lead an emotional and expanded Oscars in memoriam
Billy Crystal delivered a heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend Rob Reiner during the Oscars’ extended in memoriam segment, which honored numerous Hollywood icons lost over the past year.
Crystal recalled first meeting Reiner in 1975 on All in the Family and spoke of his evolution from comic actor to acclaimed filmmaker. He highlighted Reiner’s classics including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, Say Anything, and This Is Spinal Tap.
The segment concluded with stars from those films among them Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, and John Cusack gathering on stage. Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were tragically killed in December, with their son Nick charged in connection with their deaths.
Barbra Streisand followed with a moving remembrance of Robert Redford, her co-star in The Way We Were.
At 83, Streisand rarely performs live due to stage fright, but she made an exception to honor Redford, praising him as a “brilliant, subtle actor” and “intellectual cowboy” who championed press freedom, environmental causes, and new voices in film through the Sundance Institute.
She shared personal memories of their friendship, including his affectionate nickname for her, “Babs,” and recalled their final exchange of love before his passing in September at age 89.
Streisand closed her tribute by singing a snippet of their iconic song, earning a standing ovation.
The segment also honored lyricist Alan Bergman, Robert Duvall, Catherine O’Hara, and Diane Keaton. Rachel McAdams paid tribute to Keaton, praising her originality and influence on generations of actresses.
McAdams recited a Girl Scout song and poem Keaton often repeated on set, underscoring the enduring bonds of friendship and inspiration.
Together, the tributes reflected the deep impact of these artists on cinema and the personal connections they forged throughout their careers.
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