Jeff Conaway Omitted From Emmy ‘In Memoriam’ Tribute [Video]
Jeff Conaway passed away earlier this year at the age of 60, yet it looks like that might have slipped the minds of whoever compiled the “In Memoriam” montage for Sunday’s Emmy Awards. Dudes, that was Kenickie.
Over his 40-year career, Conaway appeared in the likes of Taxi and Babylon 5, but it is probably his role in Grease as sidekick Kenickie that he is most fondly remembered for.
Conaway began to use drugs in the mid-1980s, a shadow that loomed over his career, and doctors admitted this had contributed to his passing in May this year. His death followed two weeks spent in a coma.
Following Taxi, the bigger roles dried up for Conaway, and it’s sad that so many people will remember him more for his appearance on VH1′s Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew. After his struggle with addiction, he appeared in the show’s 2008 season to battle his dependency on alcohol, cocaine, and painkillers.
He would prove to be one of the show’s most disturbing, difficult participants, arriving drunk at the Pasadena Recovery Center in a wheelchair, and regularly airing his suicidal thoughts.
But by all accounts, Conaway was a genuinely warm individual, always stopping to say hello when approached – I’ve read accounts of how he’d even comb his hair, Kenickie-style, for photos with fans. And we all know Kenickie was the cooler cat in Grease, right?
Here’s the full ‘In Memoriam’ reel from this year’s awards, and also some footage of Conaway doing his thing alongside John Travolta:
Tags : emmys, emmys 2011, in memoriam, jeff conaway, oops
Posted: September 20, 2011
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Sep 20, 2011
This country needs to take off the sugar embargo due to payoffs from ADM so they can process high fructose corn syrup. We are poisoning our children. This is a fact. Obama, you talk about children's obesity, why don't you do something about it. Or did you already accept huge donations from ADM. You're not the only President doing this.
Take the damn embargo off and let people choose products they want to provide to their children.
If you want to stop obesity, take away embargo giving food companies the economical freedom to purchase sugar.
Sep 20, 2011
How could they not add Mr. Conaway? My God, in his day he was a great actor! He had alot of problems later on but watching Grease-he exploded! Shame on them!
Sep 20, 2011
Hypocrits they are! They put other people IN MEMORIAM that use drugs!
Sep 20, 2011
its sad- just like when they left corey Haim out last year. if their life isn't to their aproval they dis the actor.
Sep 20, 2011
John Conaway was great in GREASE, wish he could have been remembered also, anyway we who care remember him fondly!
Sep 20, 2011
WOW how sad…
Sep 20, 2011
grease was an awesome movie and wouldn't of been the same without jeff conaway! R.I.P. Kenike
Sep 20, 2011
Jeff Conaway should have, without a doubt been included in the montage shown at the Emmy Awards. Jeff was a wonderul actor best known for his role as Kenickie as well as the many other roles he played. Unfortunately drugs and alcohol play a role in many people's lives and deaths. Sadly, because he was a celebrity he was in the public eye more than those of the general public. Despite his struggles with drugs, despite all the media surrounding his death he deserves to be recognized for his many accomplishments. Don't worry Jeff, your many fans have mourned your passing and will continue to pay tribute to your accomplishments. You will not be forgotten. RIP
Sep 20, 2011
I'm sorry he was omitted. He was great. His role in Taxi was very funny. If he was omitted on purpose, then Charlie Sheen whould be omitted also.
Sep 20, 2011
They left off Annette Charles who played Cha-Cha in Grease too! Shame on them!
Sep 20, 2011
If I'm not mistaken, Rue McClanahan (Golden Girls) was also left out of the video.
Sep 20, 2011
I was so disappointed they left her out. But, when you think about it, can they possibly add everyone who has passed to a 3 min reel?
Sep 20, 2011
If they don't add Jeff Conaway, somebody should file a petition against the Emmy awards to have Jeff remembered. The Emmy Awards should be removed from television, because they have proven to be a bunch of hypocrites.
Sep 20, 2011
Rue will always be a Golden girl and should be remembered. Just one more to file a petition against the Emmys and have them banned from television.
Sep 20, 2011
I remember Cha-Cha Degregario and the Emmys should be banned from television for forgetting these great people.
Sep 20, 2011
There were several that I know of that were left out. Jeff wasn't the lone soldier. It's sad for all if them to be unaccounted for.
Sep 20, 2011
I feel something should be said about Jeff Conaway… he was a great singer, dancer, actor and all around cool guy… he will be missed… does life mean that little to us anymore? My God look at the free publicity that CharlieSheen has gotten.that is an extreme outrage…. but someone who was good dies and no words said… It really sucks to be a human being!
Sep 20, 2011
She died in June 2010. Did they mention her last year?
Sep 20, 2011
I remember he was included in the Academy Awards
Sep 20, 2011
John Travolta's Danny Zuko might have been the sex symbol of "Grease," but the love between Kenickie and Rizzo (Stockard Channing) was its heart…It was Kenickie who told the might be p.g. Riz, "I'll make an honest woman of ya," even though it might not have been his baby…Their kiss was the hottest one in the whole movie…I always thought there was more going on in JC's head than he showed…The snub was another sad example of Hollywood's insensitivity…
Sep 20, 2011
Haim wasn't included when he passed. c. feldmann made a comment about it. They had him in the footage but "editted it" because the piece was too long…
Sep 20, 2011
I think if they could include Ryan Dunn they most certainly should have included Jeff Conway.. Who decides this stuff anyway?
Sep 20, 2011
They could have added 10 or 20 more people if they hadn't wasted two minutes of screen time on a long introduction,
and showing the singers three times.
Sep 20, 2011
This may have been an oversight instead of deliberate. Perhaps they will make up for it next year.
Sep 20, 2011
Probably just an honest oversight. They'll more than likely add him to the tribute for next year's Emmy's to make up for it.
Sep 21, 2011
Shame!