Chuck Norris left off Emmys’ In Memoriam

The Emmy Awards’ annual In Memoriam segment on Monday night left out Chuck Norris, the “Walker, Texas Ranger” star who died in March, along with several other television veterans — an omission that quickly drew criticism from fans on social media.

The segment, which traditionally honors industry figures who died over the past year, included tributes to Dolly Parton, Rob Reiner and Catherine O’Hara, among the tributes TMZ documented from the telecast. But Norris’ name did not appear, nor did those of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor Nicholas Brendon, “Big Love” actress Daveigh Chase, “Days of Our Lives” actor Patrick Muldoon or several others who died within the eligibility window.

Norris, best known for starring in the nine-season CBS series “Walker, Texas Ranger” from 1993 to 2001, died in March at age 86 at his home in Kauai, Hawaii. His family said in a statement at the time that he “was surrounded by his family and was at peace.” Before his television career, Norris was a martial arts champion and a leading man in action films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and he remained a prominent conservative commentator in his later years.

Chase, who died earlier this year, was widely recognized for her voice work as Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” franchise in addition to her television credits. Brendon appeared in 143 of the 144 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” across its seven-season run.

The omissions were noticed almost immediately by viewers. One social media user reacting to the broadcast wrote, “Chuck Norris didn’t make the In Memoriam. The In Memoriam made a mistake.” Others online called Norris’ exclusion one of the more surprising snubs of the night, given his decades-long recognition in television.

The Television Academy has said its televised broadcasts only have a few minutes for the segment and that a more extensive memorial is published on its website.