More Really Cool Oscar Facts





Who was the first British actor win Best Actor?
George Arliss (1929/30) for "Disraeli"

Year the Oscars were interrupted by a streaker:
1974, but during the 73rd Academy Awards. Who? Robert Opal. Between the acting awards, causing presenter David Niven to dryly remark that "the only laugh that man will probably ever get is for stripping and showing off his shortcomings."

In Hollywood's own version of the "Dewey Defeats Truman" presidential-headline gaffe, an early edition of the Los Angeles Times on March 20, 1948, bore the headline "Roz Russell Wins Oscar." Although Rosalind Russell was the favorite for her performance in "Mourning Becomes Electra," she did not win the award. Loretta Young was the winner in 1948 for her performance in "The Farmer's Daughter."

Consecutive Best Supporting Actor Winners:
1. 1976 : Jason Robards in "All the Presidents Men"
2. 1977 : Jason Robards in "Julia"

Until "Chicago," the last musical to win was "Oliver!" in 1968.

African American Oscar Winners:

  • Hattie McDaniel, Supporting Actress, 1939 "Gone With The Wind" (first African American to win an Oscar, and the first black female to win)
  • Sidney Poitier, Best Actor, 1963 "Lilies of The Field" (First African American Actor to win, and for a leading role) He should have been nominated for his great perfomances in "In The Heat Of The Night," and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." In the 2001 awards he recieved an Honary Oscar for his acting achievments.
  • Louis Gossett Jr., Best Supporting Actor, 1982 "An Officer and a Gentelman." (First to win Best Supporting Actor)
  • Denzel Washington, Best Supporting Actor, 1989 "Glory"
  • Whoopi Goldberg, Best Supporting Actress, 1990 "Ghost"
  • Cuba Gooding Jr., Best Supporting Actor, 1996 "Jerry Maguire"
  • Halle Berry, Best Actress, 2001 "Monster's Ball" First black actress to win for a leading role.
  • Denzel Washington, Best Actor, 2001 "Training Day"
  • Morgan Freeman, Best Supporting Actor, 2004 "Million Dollar Baby"
  • Jamie Foxx, Best Actor, 2004, "Ray"
    • For a complete list of the Black actors and actresses who have been nominated click on the following link from the NY Times HERE

    No one has won Best Actor for their film debut. BUT Shirley Booth did win the Best Actress award for her first film in 1952 "Come Back, Little Sheba" so did Barbara Striesand for "Funny Girl," and Marlee Matlin "Children of A Lesser God." Lots of supporting actors and actresses have won for their film debuts some such as Tatum O'Neal "Paper Moon," Timothy Hutton "Ordinary People," Anna Paquin "The Piano," and Miyoshi Umeki "Sayonara."

    The Following Oscar Winners were born outside the United States:
    UK (Great Britain) Oscar Winners:
    Victor McLaglen, Robert Donat, Ronald Colman, Donald Crisp, Edmund Gwenn, Laurence Oliveir, Peter Ustinov, Alec Guinness, David Niven, Peter Finch Wendy Hiller, Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, Hugh Griffith, Margaret Rutherford, Julie Andrews, Julie Christie, Paul Scofield, Maggie Smith, Glenda Jackson, John Mills, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Ben Kingsley, Peggy Ashcroft, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Jeremy Irons, Daniel Day-Lewis, Anthony Hopkins, and Emma Thompson.
    Canada: Mary Pickford, Marie Dressler, Walter Houston, Anna Paquin.
    Austrailia: Peter Finch, Geoffrey Rush, Russel Crowe. (Note: Mel Gibson was born in Peekskill, NY not Austraila)
    Austria: Paul Muni, Luise Rainer, Maxmillian Schell.
    France: Claudette Colbert, Simone Signoret, Juliette Binoche.
    Italy: Ann Magnani, Sophia Loren, Roberto Benigni.
    Japan: Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine <--They're sisters), and Miyoshi Umecki.
    Ireland: Greer Garson, Barry Fitzgerald, Brenda Fricker.
    Others: Vivien Leigh- India. Paul Lukas- Hungary. Katina Paxinou, Lila Kedrova- Greece. Ingrid Bergman- Sweden. Yul Brynner, George Sanders- Russia. Dr. Haing S. Ngor- Cambodia

    "Shrek," the hip twist on cartoon fairy tales that featured the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, won the first-ever Oscar for animated feature film. (2001)

    At four hours, 23 minutes, the 74th annual awards show was the longest Oscar show ever, breaking the 2000 mark by 14 minutes.

    Most appearances as host at the Oscars:
    Bob Hope solo hosted the Academy Awards a record of 13 times. Ranging from the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. He has also co-hosted the event 4 more times.

    Oscar hosts with the most number of appearances:
     17. Bob Hope
    8. Billy Crystal
    6. Johnny Carson
    4. Whoopi Goldberg
    3. Jack Benny
    3. David Niven (who was hosting during the streaking incident)
    2. Steve Martin
    2. Chevy Chase
    1. David Letterman

    Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.

    1953, was the year when the Oscar show was first televised.

    Tickets for the first ever Oscar award show cost only $10.

    The first and only Saturday Night Live alumni to be nominated for an Oscar is Bill Murray for "Lost in Translation."

    The first "In Living Color" actor to be nominated and to win an Oscar is Jamie Foxx for "Ray." Jim Carrey also from the comedy show has yet to be nominated.