Oscar montages omit Renfro, Goldberg

Previous Academy Award telecast host Whoopi Goldberg and late Hollywood actor Brad Renfro were noticeably left out of Oscar montages Sunday night.

Renfro died of a heroin overdose a week before Heath Ledger died of an accidental lethal combination of prescription drugs. However, Ledger was included in a memorial montage during the Oscar show and Renfro wasn't.

It was really an editing decision because we can't fit everyone in, a representative for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told Usmagazine.com. There was no specific reason.

Renfro co-starred in the films The Client,Sleepers,Apt Pupil and Ghost World.

Goldberg was left out of a montage that featured previous Oscar telecast hosts.

When her fellow panelists on The View voiced their outrage Monday over the omission, Goldberg noted, They also missed Steve Martin.

Goldberg's View co-hosts pointed out she was the second African-American actress to win an Academy Award and the first African-American woman to preside over the Oscar telecast.

When Sherri Shepherd asked her if she angered someone at the Oscars, Goldberg replied with a smile, Undoubtedly.

She also said, This makes up for it, and kissed each of her fellow panelists on the cheek for their support.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International