Corey Feldman says he felt left out of Reiner’s Oscar tribute: ‘Family reunion I wasn’t invited to’

Corey Feldman praised Wil Wheaton and Jerry O'Connell for honoring Rob Reiner but said he was bothered that no one spoke from the heart
Corey Feldman said he felt excluded from Rob Reiner’s Oscar tribute, where stars honored the late filmmaker weeks after his death (Kayla Oaddams, Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
Corey Feldman said he felt excluded from Rob Reiner’s Oscar tribute, where stars honored the late filmmaker weeks after his death (Kayla Oaddams, Jesse Grant/Getty Images)


LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Corey Feldman reacted to being excluded from Rob Reiner’s 2026 Oscar tribute, saying it felt like a “family gathering” he wasn’t invited to.

Several stars took the stage at the 2026 Academy Awards to honor the late filmmaker Reiner, who was found dead along with his wife, Michele, at their California home in December 2025.

The tribute came nearly two weeks after several cast members of his films honored the late actor-director at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15. 

Corey Feldman attends the Premiere of 'My Truth: The Rape Of Two Coreys' at Directors Guild Of America on March 09, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Corey Feldman was quick to praise those who took to the stage during 26 Academy Awards to honor Rob Reiner (Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

Corey Feldman reacts to Oscar tribute snub

Corey Feldman was quick to praise those who took the stage at the 2026 Academy Awards to honor Rob Reiner.

The event felt “a little bit like a family reunion I wasn’t invited to,” Corey Feldman told Entertainment Weekly. He shared the reaction during an interview alongside his former co-stars Jerry O'Connell and Wil Wheaton, as the trio marked the re-release anniversary of the 1986 film 'Stand by Me.'

However, he also expressed appreciation for those who took part, adding that he did not want to use the interview time “to go into his feelings about” the event.

“Instead I just want to say that I’m with the rest of us, we’re all very destroyed that things went down the way they did, losing Rob when we all thought he’d be joining us at some point for this tour and it’s a tragedy.”

Stand By Me tells the story of friends River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, and Jerry O'Connell who searched for the body of a missing boy (Columbia Pictures)
Corey Feldman appreciated 'Stand By Me' co-stars Wil Wheaton and Jerry O'Connell for joining other stars to honor Rob Reiner (Columbia Pictures)

Feldman also appreciated his 'Stand by Me' co-stars Wheaton and O'Connell for joining other stars to honor Reiner.

“I think Jerry and Wil did what had to be done,” Feldman said. While he was not present among the stars who honored Reiner, his co-stars Wheaton and O’Connell took part in the tribute.

“I personally was probably maybe a little bothered by the fact that nobody got to speak or do or say anything from their own heart. Although they did a wonderful job, I would’ve liked to have heard from Wil and Jerry and a few other people up there,” he continued. 

Billy Crystal honors Rob Reiner’s film legacy

Reiner’s longtime friend Billy Crystal listed the notable projects by the late filmmaker, highlighting the variety and impact of his work. He said, “Rob's movies will last for lifetimes.”



"To the millions who have enjoyed his films all these years, I want you to know, here and around the world, how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him, that his work meant something to you, and for us who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him,” Crystal said during his speech onstage.

Nick Reiner charged in parents’ deaths

Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Director Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner attend the Premiere of Verticle Entertainment's
Rob Reiner and wife Michele Reiner were found dead in their home in California (Alberto E Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested a day after their deaths and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Nick is scheduled to appear in court on April 29. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.

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