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Emmys 2025: Ozzy Osbourne’s Surprise “In Memoriam” Appearance Leaves Fans Emotional
The 2025 Emmy Awards included a touching “In Memoriam” segment, honoring television figures who passed away this past year. While the segment was opened by The Cosby Show star Phylicia Rashad, paying tribute to her on-screen son Malcolm Jamal Warner, who died on July 20th at age 54, it was another name that caught many by surprise.
Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne appeared in the tribute, prompting cheers and applause from the audience. Osbourne, who died on July 22nd at 76, achieved mainstream fame with his family’s hit MTV reality show, The Osbournes.
The show offered a glimpse into the rock star’s family life and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. As country stars Lainey Wilson and Vince Gill performed “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” Osbourne’s image appeared on screen, leading to an outpouring of emotion on social media, with fans expressing their condolences and sharing memories.
The “In Memoriam” segment also included tributes to notable figures like Dame Maggie Smith, David Lynch, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Quincy Jones. However, some viewers noted omissions, including actress Polly Holliday and wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose family also had a reality TV series. While Hogan is listed on the official Emmys website memorial, he was not included in the broadcast tribute.
The 2025 Emmy Awards, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, can be streamed on Paramount+.