Hulk Hogan was not included in the In Memoriam segment during Sunday night’s 98th Academy Awards broadcast despite having a film career that spanned over two decades, including a role in the Oscar-nominated Rocky III.
Hogan, born Terry Bollea, died on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71 from cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. His death followed a series of health procedures, including neck surgery in May 2025.
His name was included on the Academy’s online In Memoriam page but was not shown during the televised ceremony.
Hogan’s Film Career
Hogan made his acting debut in Rocky III in 1982, playing Thunderlips, the wrestling champion who fights Rocky Balboa in a charity exhibition match. The role was recommended by wrestler Terry Funk, and the film grossed over $270 million worldwide. Sylvester Stallone paid tribute to Hogan after his death, calling him someone who had “a light” and “a glow” and praising his professionalism on set.
Hogan went on to star in multiple films, including No Holds Barred (1989), Suburban Commando (1991), Mr. Nanny (1993), and Santa with Muscles (1996). He also appeared in Gremlins 2: The New Batch and had television roles in Thunder in Paradise, Baywatch, The A-Team, The Love Boat, Walker Texas Ranger, and Suddenly Susan. His reality series Hogan Knows Best ran for four seasons on VH1.
Gold Derby published a retrospective of Hogan’s most memorable film roles following his death, and multiple outlets noted that while he was primarily known as a wrestler, he was undeniably a movie star whose work in Rocky III alone warranted inclusion in the broadcast segment. Looper wrote that Hogan “was undeniably a movie star who should have merited a nod.”
Who Else Was Left Out
The In Memoriam segment ran approximately 15 minutes, longer than usual, but still left out several notable names. Among those omitted from the broadcast were Brigitte Bardot, James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Bud Cort, Robert Carradine, June Lockhart, George Wendt, Julian McMahon, Joe Don Baker, Peter Greene, Richard Chamberlain, Loretta Swit, Bob Uecker, and Marianne Faithfull. All were included on the Academy’s online In Memoriam page but not on the televised ceremony.
Who Was Honored
The ceremony gave extended tributes to three Hollywood legends who died in the past year. Billy Crystal eulogized director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, who were killed on December 14. Crystal was joined on stage by numerous collaborators from Reiner’s films, including Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and others.
Rachel McAdams paid tribute to Diane Keaton, calling her “luminous onscreen and indelible in life.” Barbra Streisand closed the segment with a tribute to Robert Redford, singing a portion of “The Way We Were” from the 1973 film in which she co-starred with Redford.
Other names who were shown during the broadcast montage included Robert Duvall, Terence Stamp, and Catherine O’Hara, though they received only brief on-screen appearances due to the extended time given to the three main tributes.
The 98th Academy Awards aired live on ABC on March 15, 2026, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien.
