Emmy Awards to Feature Memorial for Monteith and More

The Emmy Awards telecast always features a segment memorializing actors and industrial professionals who have passed away during the previous year, but this year's telecast will feature an extended memorial to acknowledge the passing of several high-profile celebrities.

The "In Memoriam" segment will pay tribute to four actors and a writer/producer, and the segment will feature speeches by co-stars and friends of the departed stars. "Glee" star Jane Lynch will speak in memory of Cory Monteith, and Edie Falco of "The Sopranos" will speak in honor of her on-screen husband, James Gandolfini.

Rob Reiner, who starred alongside Jean Stapleton in "All in the Family," will speak on behalf of the late actress, and Robin Williams will honor his friend, the comedian Jonathon Winters. Michael J. Fox will speak in honor of Gary David Goldberg; Fox worked with writer/producer Goldberg on "Family Ties" and "Spin City."

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the show's executive producer, Ken Ehrlich, sees the expanded memorial as a necessary acknowledgement of some particularly heavy losses.

"These five individuals brought us such great entertainment and joy," he said. "So having their close friends share personal remembrances is something that will be very meaningful for television audiences across the country and across the generations. And our traditional ‘In Memoriam’ segment will be presented in a unique new format that will give added importance to an already much anticipated segment of the Emmy show.