Frances McDormand's Oscars speech wolf howl was a tribute to 'Nomadland's' late sound mixer

• The howl was for the movie's sound mixer Michael Wolf Snyder, who committed suicide earlier this year.
• "Wolf recorded our heart beats. Our every breath. For me, he is 'Nomadland,'" McDormand said following his death.

While accepting the best picture Oscar during the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night, "Nomadland" star Frances McDormand let out a big howl.

McDormand, who is also a producer on the movie, delivered the memorable moment after stating that "we give this one out to our Wolf."

We learned later, when the movie's director Chloé Zhao spoke to press, that McDormand was referring to the movie's sound mixer Michael Wolf Snyder, who committed suicide earlier this year.

"He's part of the family," Zhao said. "So that howling to the moon is for Wolf."

"He has suffered from major depression for many years," Snyder's father, David, wrote in a Facebook post (according to Deadline) last month. "For most people, this is an illness that waxes and wanes over the years. I'm sure it was difficult for Michael that he spent most of the last year alone in his small, Queens apartment, being responsible about dealing with the coronavirus."

McDormand told Variety at the time of Snyder's death that "Wolf recorded our heartbeats. Our every breath. For me, he is 'Nomadland.'"

"Nomadland" had a big night at the Oscars (as Insider predicted). Along with winning best picture, Zhao won best director, making her the second woman ever to win the award. McDormand won best actress, her third in the category, which is the most best actress wins by any actress besides Katharine Hepburn.