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Questionshave been swirling around as to why late actress Farrah Fawcett was omitted from this weekend's 'In Memoriam' segment during the Academy Awards. According to the Academy, it was no mistake. They have since insisted that Fawcett, who died at the age of 62 on June 25, 2009, after a long battle with cancer, was primarily a television star, best known for her work on series like Charlie's Angels.
According to the Huffington Post, Bruce Davis, the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said that the exclusion, "Was a difficult decision for the committee that assembles the segment to omit Fawcett." Davis also acknowledged that he's not surprised that Fawcett's friends and family were upset by the decision.
Fawcett's longtime boyfriend, actor Ryan O'Neal was amongst those dismayed by her not appearing on the segment. O'Neal, 68, said he was "shocked" and "confused" by the snub.
Davis admitted he received a letter from a fan regarding Fawcett's exclusion, but the director concluded that not everyone in the industry could be recognized in the telecast, "You're going to miss some wonderful people." Fawcett starred in movies such as Dr. T and the Women, The Cannonball Run, and the 1997 Oscar-nominated film The Apostle.
Plus: Ryan O'Neal: Why Did the Oscar Ceremony Leave Out Farrah?
Do you think the Academy should have excluded Farrah Fawcett from the 'In Memoriam' segment? Chime in below!