Corey Feldman has shared his candid reaction after being left out of the 2026 Oscars tribute to his late Stand By Me director Rob Reiner – admitting the moment felt “like a family reunion” he wasn’t invited to.
The actor opened up in a new interview alongside his former co-stars Jerry O’Connell and Wil Wheaton, as the trio reunited to mark the 40th anniversary re-release of the beloved 1986 film Stand by Me.
At the 2026 Academy Awards, a number of stars who had worked with Rob took to the stage to honour the filmmaker, who was found dead alongside his wife Michele at their California home in December 2025. While Corey was notably absent from the tribute, he was quick to praise those who took part.
© Getty Images“I think Jerry and Wil did what had to be done. It was a fleeting moment, so I don’t feel like I missed much at all,” he told EW. “Although they did a wonderful job, I would’ve liked to have heard from Wil and Jerry and a few other people up there.”
Still, the moment carried mixed emotions. “Personally, it felt a little bit like a family reunion I wasn’t invited to,” Corey said, before adding that he didn’t want to dwell on his disappointment. “It is what it is… 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.”
© Getty ImagesThe actor also reflected on the shock surrounding Rob’s death, revealing that many had expected to reunite with the director in person as part of the anniversary celebrations.
“We all would’ve loved to be able to say goodbye in our own ways. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” he said. “The best way we can say goodbye is honoring him and his work… and hopefully going out there to celebrate him one last time on a big screen where it deserves to be seen.”
© GettyThe emotional tribute at the Oscars was introduced by Billy Crystal and featured appearances from a number of Rob’s longtime collaborators, including Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, Kathy Bates and Kiefer Sutherland.
Meanwhile, Corey has been reconnecting with fans alongside Wil and Jerry on a live reunion tour celebrating Stand By Me, with upcoming stops across the United States.
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