Hollywood paid a tribute from the Oscars stage to Kirk Douglas and Kobe Bryant, two well-loved stars in the United States, who died the days before the great movie party.
During the moment “in memoriam”, in which the Hollywood Academy remembered people related to the film industry who have passed away in the last year, images of both were projected: Bryant at the beginning and Douglas at the end.
Young Billie Eilish, who at just 18 years old has become a song star and has just won five Grammy Awards, performed Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” during the tribute.
Just four days before the ceremony, the film mecca was orphaned by the last surviving icon of its golden age, Kirk Douglas, who said goodbye to his 103 years.
It is true that Olivia de Havilland still survives, at 104, but she has lived in France for years and the Douglas family is an institution in the mecca of cinema.
The very Academy responsible for delivering the Oscars dedicated a message to say goodbye to the actor, whom it described as a “film legend.”
Another institution, sporting and cultural, was Kobe Bryant, whom the Academy remembered just two weeks after his tragic accident in which he, his daughter and seven other people died aboard a helicopter.
The news came just as other awards began, the Grammys, which were held precisely at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and in which Bryant played most of his career.
In addition, exactly two years ago, the former basketball player picked up a statuette at the Oscars for being the producer of the best animated short, “Dear Basketball.”
“As basketball players, we are supposed to be quiet and dribble. Glad we can do a little more than that. Thank you, Academy, for this incredible honor, “said the athlete in his speech of appreciation.
During the traditional Oscar nominees luncheon, held last week, attendees also dedicated a minute of silence for the tragic accident. EFE