One of the most prestigious awards in the world, if not the only, has a long history of glamour. The Academy Awards, or simply by its celebrated nickname — Oscars — needs no explanation. The attendees and nominees grace the red carpet with their gorgeous designer gowns and expensive jewelry as they enter the ceremonial venue.
In its 80-plus year existence, the Academy Awards has many intriguing stories, facts, and trivia one may not know or even realize. This is dedicated to the Oscar fanatic or a casual Oscars’ TV viewer. Here are some things you probably didn’t even know about the Academy Award nominees and winners, plus the Oscar statuette.
Academy Awards Trivia
No other film has won all four acting categories, except “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Network,” who only won three — Best Actor (Peter Finch – “Network”), Actress (Vivien Leigh – “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Faye Dunaway – “Network), Supporting Actor (Karl Malden – “A Streetcar Named Desire”), and Supporting Actress (Kim Hunter – “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Beatrice Straight – “Network”).
Hugh Jackman in “Les Miserables” and Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” are the only recent best actors to star and be nominated in a musical. Only two other actors have been nominated during the 1960s and 1970s. Roy Scheider’s “All That Jazz” from 1979, and Rex Harrison for “My Fair Lady” in 1964. Incidentally, Rex Harrison is still the only Oscar winning actor in a musical.
Film music composer John Williams, best known for his musical score in “Jaws” when the shark approaches, has the most nominations of any living person totaling at 49. Walt Disney still holds the record at 59 nods.
No film in recent history has won best director without being nominated for best picture. Only in 1930 at the 2nd Academy Awards director Frank Lloyd won for “Divine Lady,” a film that wasn’t even nominated.
Daniel Day-Lewis became the first actor to win an Oscar in a Steven Spielberg film for his role as President Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln.” Day-Lewis also became the first actor to win portraying a U.S. President.
Oscar Facts
The Oscar statuette only measures at just 13½ inches high , and its official name is the Academy Award of Merit.
Composer Bobby Lopez of the animated film “Frozen” may become the 12th person at the 86th Academy Awards by achieving the rare feat of an EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” is considered the only Oscar-nominated film with a total of 500-plus profane words spoken.
Meryl Streep still holds the record for the most Oscar nominations at 18.
The only person with the first name Oscar to win an Oscar was Oscar Hammerstein II for Best Song in 1941 and 1945.
