Every year, the Academy Awards dedicate a special segment to remembering the lives of Hollywood directors, actors, and other creatives. The show ran its “In Memoriam” on Sunday night, and among its inevitable, generally unintentional snubs was Paul Sorvino.
Daughter Mira Sorvino took to her Twitter account to express her disappointment in the Academy.
“It is baffling beyond belief that my beloved father and many other amazing, brilliant departed actors were left out. The Oscars forgot about Paul Sorvino, but the rest of us never will,” the 55-year-old tweeted while sharing a USA Today article about her father’s absence from the telecast. She went on to add, “One thing is for sure, there has been an outpouring of love and tribute[s] to Dad since last night. He will not be forgotten.”
It is baffling beyond belief that my beloved father and many other amazing brilliant departed actors were left out. The Oscars forgot about Paul Sorvino, but the rest of us never will!! via @forthewin
The Impeachment: American Crime Story actress also opened up on Instagram. “Incredibly hurt and shocked that my father’s lifelong, irreplaceable, enormous contribution to the world of cinema was overlooked by whomever made that list,” she wrote. “We his adoring family, and you, his adoring public, know just how unique and incredible he was. We hope @theacademy does something to put this right.”
One thing is for sure, there has been an outpouring of love and tribute to Dad since last night. He will not be forgotten.
Sorvino passed away in July 2022 at the age of 83. He was best known for his role in the 1990 gangster classic Goodfellas as Mafia member Paul Cicero, and he also starred in the early seasons of Law & Order. He died of natural causes at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Paul’s widow Dee Dee Sorvino also made an official statement slamming the awards show, saying the omission is “unconscionable.”
“Paul Sorvino was one of the greatest actors in cinematic history in Hollywood. It is unconscionable that he would be left out of the ‘In Memoriam’ segment of the Oscars. It’s a three-hour show, they can’t give a couple more minutes to get it right? Paul Sorvino gave decades to this industry and was loved by all. Paul was not the only deserving soul left out, and a QR code is not acceptable,” Dee Dee Sorvino said, per People, referencing the option given to viewers to scan their screen and be taken to extended tributes online.
Dee Dee was more unfiltered on IG, adding, “Hey Academy, what the hell were you thinking? … You could not spare another second or two for a legendary actor like Paul? SHAME on you for this, very wrong and disrespectful. Get your act together. This deserves an apology.”
Also unrecognized were late actors Anne Heche, Leslie Jordan, and Tom Sizemore.
