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Another Oscar Gaffe: ‘Dead’ Woman Shown in Ceremony’s ‘In Memoriam’ Segment Is Still Alive

Feb 27, 2017  •  Post A Comment

A woman whose photo was featured in the “In Memoriam” segment during Sunday’s Oscars is still very much alive, in what turned out to be only the second-biggest screwup at this year’s ceremony.

Variety reports that Jan Chapman said she was “devastated” when she saw her photo during the segment paying tribute to industry people who have died during the past year. Her image appeared along with words identifying Janet Patterson, Costume Designer.

Chapman and Patterson, who are both Australian, were friends and frequent collaborators. Chapman is a film producer whose credits include “Lantana” and “The Last Days of Chez Nous.”

Patterson, a highly decorated costume designer and production designer whose honors include four Academy Award nominations, died on Oct. 21.

Variety quotes Chapman saying via email: “I was devastated by the use of my image in place of my great friend and long-time collaborator Janet Patterson. I had urged her agency to check any photograph which might be used and understand that they were told that the Academy had it covered. Janet was a great beauty and four-time Oscar nominee and it is very disappointing that the error was not picked up. I am alive and well and an active producer.”

Misidentified photo of Jan Chapman during Sunday’s
“In Memoriam” segment (YouTube)

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