Photo: Ellen DeGeneres/AP
At theOscars, anything can happen!Besides the excitement of seeing favorite films win big, another reason to tune in to the Academy Awards is to not miss the show’s most talked-about moments.No one could have anticipated the 2017 Best Picture blunder now calledEnvelopegate, the night a 10-year-old actress became the youngest Oscar winner or when a famous comedian’s bad joke led to an infamousslap heard around the world.Here are some of our favorite memories from past Oscars ceremonies that we’ll never tire of talking about.
At theOscars, anything can happen!
Besides the excitement of seeing favorite films win big, another reason to tune in to the Academy Awards is to not miss the show’s most talked-about moments.
No one could have anticipated the 2017 Best Picture blunder now calledEnvelopegate, the night a 10-year-old actress became the youngest Oscar winner or when a famous comedian’s bad joke led to an infamousslap heard around the world.
Here are some of our favorite memories from past Oscars ceremonies that we’ll never tire of talking about.
01of 241940: Hattie McDaniel Makes HistoryBettmann/GettyIt took more than a decade forthe first Black personto win an Academy Award. The honor went toHattie McDanielfor Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy inGone with the Wind(1939). However, the win wasn’t all progress: In 1940, with segregation still intact, McDaniel was made to sit at the back of the venue, away from the rest of the film’s cast.
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1940: Hattie McDaniel Makes History
Bettmann/Getty
It took more than a decade forthe first Black personto win an Academy Award. The honor went toHattie McDanielfor Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy inGone with the Wind(1939). However, the win wasn’t all progress: In 1940, with segregation still intact, McDaniel was made to sit at the back of the venue, away from the rest of the film’s cast.
02of 241943: Greer Garson Delivers Record-Breaking SpeechBettmann/GettyGreer Garson set a record that has yet to be broken with her very,verylong acceptance speech after winning Best Actress for her performance inMrs. Miniver(1942). The lengthy speech ran for seven minutes, and many point to it as the catalyst for the modern introduction of the time limit.
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1943: Greer Garson Delivers Record-Breaking Speech
Greer Garson set a record that has yet to be broken with her very,verylong acceptance speech after winning Best Actress for her performance inMrs. Miniver(1942). The lengthy speech ran for seven minutes, and many point to it as the catalyst for the modern introduction of the time limit.
03of 241968: Alfred Hitchcock Gives a Short Acceptance SpeechRolls Press/Popperfoto/GettyThe Master of Suspense was nominated for five Oscars over the course of his long career, butAlfred Hitchcocknever won until 1968 — and even then, it was a bit of technicality. Instead of winning one of the Academy’s traditional categories, he was presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which is something of a lifetime achievement award for filmmakers. Perhaps not satisfied with his honorary title, Hitchcock gave one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Oscars' history: a simple “thank you.”
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1968: Alfred Hitchcock Gives a Short Acceptance Speech
Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty
The Master of Suspense was nominated for five Oscars over the course of his long career, butAlfred Hitchcocknever won until 1968 — and even then, it was a bit of technicality. Instead of winning one of the Academy’s traditional categories, he was presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which is something of a lifetime achievement award for filmmakers. Perhaps not satisfied with his honorary title, Hitchcock gave one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Oscars' history: a simple “thank you.”
04of 241969: Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn Tie for Best ActressBarbra Streisand.Bettmann/GettyThere have been six ties in Oscars' history, and the one that got the most buzz came in 1969, whenBarbra StreisandandKatharine Hepburnboth won Best Actress: Streisand forFunny Girl(1968) and Hepburn forThe Lion in Winter(1968).It was the latter actress’s second win in a row (and third overall) after taking home the prize forGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner(1967) the year before. Of the two winners, Streisand was the only one present, however, and opened her speech with the now-iconic line, “Hello, gorgeous.”
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1969: Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn Tie for Best Actress
Barbra Streisand.Bettmann/Getty
There have been six ties in Oscars' history, and the one that got the most buzz came in 1969, whenBarbra StreisandandKatharine Hepburnboth won Best Actress: Streisand forFunny Girl(1968) and Hepburn forThe Lion in Winter(1968).It was the latter actress’s second win in a row (and third overall) after taking home the prize forGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner(1967) the year before. Of the two winners, Streisand was the only one present, however, and opened her speech with the now-iconic line, “Hello, gorgeous.”
05of 241972: Charlie Chaplin Receives Honorary Oscar (and Longest Standing Ovation)Bettmann/GettyThe bulk of iconic silent film star Charlie Chaplin’s career occurred before the Oscars began, but his impact on the industry was incomparable. To recognize that, the Academygave him an honorary awardin 1972, which prompted a 12-minute standing ovation.“Words seem so futile — so feeble,” Chaplin said in his speech. “I can only say thank you for the honor of inviting me here.“His public appearance at the ceremony was also significant because it was one of his first in the United States in two decades. His reentry permit to the U.S. was revoked in 1972 due to controversy surrounding his alleged communist ties,perThe Washington Post.
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1972: Charlie Chaplin Receives Honorary Oscar (and Longest Standing Ovation)
The bulk of iconic silent film star Charlie Chaplin’s career occurred before the Oscars began, but his impact on the industry was incomparable. To recognize that, the Academygave him an honorary awardin 1972, which prompted a 12-minute standing ovation.
“Words seem so futile — so feeble,” Chaplin said in his speech. “I can only say thank you for the honor of inviting me here.”
His public appearance at the ceremony was also significant because it was one of his first in the United States in two decades. His reentry permit to the U.S. was revoked in 1972 due to controversy surrounding his alleged communist ties,perThe Washington Post.
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1973: Sacheen Littlefeather Steps in for Marlon Brando
WhenMarlon Brandowon for what is now considered to be one of his best-known roles, as Don Vito Corleone inThe Godfather(1972), the actor wasn’t there to receive the Best Actor trophy. Instead, he sentSacheen Littlefeather, an Apache Native American activist and the president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, to speak on his behalf andreject the award.
Sacheen died in October 2022 at the age of 75, weeks after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued an apology forhow she was treatedat the 1973 show.
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1974: A Streaker Runs on Stage
Hulton Archive/Getty
08of 241974: Tatum O’Neal Becomes the Youngest Oscar Winner in a Major CategoryRon Galella/WireImageStarring inPaper Moon(1973)alongside her father,Ryan O’Neal,Tatum O’Nealwon her Best Supporting Actress Oscar at just 10 years old. She collected the award wearing a little tuxedo andgave a very brief speech: “All I really want to thank is my director,Peter Bogdanovich, and my father. Thank you.”
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1974: Tatum O’Neal Becomes the Youngest Oscar Winner in a Major Category
Ron Galella/WireImage
Starring inPaper Moon(1973)alongside her father,Ryan O’Neal,Tatum O’Nealwon her Best Supporting Actress Oscar at just 10 years old. She collected the award wearing a little tuxedo andgave a very brief speech: “All I really want to thank is my director,Peter Bogdanovich, and my father. Thank you.”
09of 241989: Rob Lowe Opens with Infamous Musical NumberReed Saxon/AP/REX/ShutterstockThe Oscars typically opens with a humorous bit and, on occasion, a song. And in 1989,Rob Loweand Eileen Bowman performed aSnow White-inspired takeon “Proud Mary,” with Bowman as the Disney princess. The routine was a disaster, and Disney sued the show; however,according toThe New York Times, the lawsuit was later dropped after the Academy apologized.Several stars, includingPaul NewmanandJulie Andrews, signed an open letter criticizing the telecast, calling the performance “an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion picture industry,“The Hollywood Reporterreported.
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1989: Rob Lowe Opens with Infamous Musical Number
Reed Saxon/AP/REX/Shutterstock
The Oscars typically opens with a humorous bit and, on occasion, a song. And in 1989,Rob Loweand Eileen Bowman performed aSnow White-inspired takeon “Proud Mary,” with Bowman as the Disney princess. The routine was a disaster, and Disney sued the show; however,according toThe New York Times, the lawsuit was later dropped after the Academy apologized.
Several stars, includingPaul NewmanandJulie Andrews, signed an open letter criticizing the telecast, calling the performance “an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion picture industry,“The Hollywood Reporterreported.
10of 241993: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Get (Temporarily) BannedFrom left: Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere.KMazur/WireImage (2)WhenRichard Gere,Susan SarandonandTim Robbinstook their moment onstage at the Oscars toget political— withexes Sarandon and Robbinsaddressing Haitian people living with HIV and Gere talking about the Chinese invasion of Tibet — the reaction from the Academy was not positive.All three were banned from the show for life, but it didn’t last long: Sarandon won Best Actress three years later forDead Man Walking(1995) and Robbins scored a Best Supporting Actor win forMystic River(2003). Gere hasn’t won nor been nominated for an Oscar as of 2024, though theChicagostar has attended the awards show multiple times since he was initially banned.
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1993: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins Get (Temporarily) Banned
From left: Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere.KMazur/WireImage (2)
WhenRichard Gere,Susan SarandonandTim Robbinstook their moment onstage at the Oscars toget political— withexes Sarandon and Robbinsaddressing Haitian people living with HIV and Gere talking about the Chinese invasion of Tibet — the reaction from the Academy was not positive.
All three were banned from the show for life, but it didn’t last long: Sarandon won Best Actress three years later forDead Man Walking(1995) and Robbins scored a Best Supporting Actor win forMystic River(2003). Gere hasn’t won nor been nominated for an Oscar as of 2024, though theChicagostar has attended the awards show multiple times since he was initially banned.
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2000: Robin Williams Performs “Blame Canada”
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty
Though the song lost the Oscar toPhil Collins' “You’ll Be in My Heart” fromTarzan(1999), thelate funnyman’s memorable performance has lived on in history.
12of 242001: Björk Turns Heads in Swan OutfitRon Davis/GettyThere have been a lot oficonic outfits at the Oscarsover the years, but none perhaps more so thanBjörk’s. When she attended the show in 2001 as a Best Original Song nominee for “I’ve Seen It All” from the filmDancer in the Dark(2000), she wore aneye-popping dress with a faux swan headwrapped around her neck.
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2001: Björk Turns Heads in Swan Outfit
Ron Davis/Getty
There have been a lot oficonic outfits at the Oscarsover the years, but none perhaps more so thanBjörk’s. When she attended the show in 2001 as a Best Original Song nominee for “I’ve Seen It All” from the filmDancer in the Dark(2000), she wore aneye-popping dress with a faux swan headwrapped around her neck.
13of 242002: Halle Berry Gets Emotional After Historic Oscar WinFrederick M. Brown/GettyIt was pure euphoria forHalle Berrywhen she won Best Actress in 2001 forMonster’s Ball(2002), becomingthe first Black womanto do so. After her name was read, she immediately burst into tears, taking the stage to deliver one of the ceremony’sbest-remembered acceptance speeches.“This moment is so much bigger than me,” Berry said. “It’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
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2002: Halle Berry Gets Emotional After Historic Oscar Win
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
It was pure euphoria forHalle Berrywhen she won Best Actress in 2001 forMonster’s Ball(2002), becomingthe first Black womanto do so. After her name was read, she immediately burst into tears, taking the stage to deliver one of the ceremony’sbest-remembered acceptance speeches.
“This moment is so much bigger than me,” Berry said. “It’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
14of 242009: Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous OscarGABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty ImagesThere was barely a dry eye in the house whenHeath Ledger, whodied in January 2008, won an Oscar posthumously for his chilling performance as Batman villainthe JokerinThe Dark Knight(2008), which earned rave reviews when it released the summer following his death. His mother, father and sister accepted the award on his behalf.Ledger was only the second actor to win a posthumous Oscar after Peter Finch won Best Actor forNetwork(1976).
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2009: Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous Oscar
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
There was barely a dry eye in the house whenHeath Ledger, whodied in January 2008, won an Oscar posthumously for his chilling performance as Batman villainthe JokerinThe Dark Knight(2008), which earned rave reviews when it released the summer following his death. His mother, father and sister accepted the award on his behalf.
Ledger was only the second actor to win a posthumous Oscar after Peter Finch won Best Actor forNetwork(1976).
15of 242010: Kathryn Bigelow Wins Best DirectorMichael Caulfield/WireImageOnly eightwomen have been nominated for Best Directorin Oscars' history, with onlythree taking home the coveted prize. The first was Kathryn Bigelow forThe Hurt Locker(2008).“This really is, um, there’s no other way to describe it,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It’s the moment of a lifetime.“Since Bigelow,Chloé Zhaobecamethe second woman ever to winthe award in 2021 forNomadland(2020) andJane Campionbecame the third in 2022 forThe Power of the Dog(2021).
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2010: Kathryn Bigelow Wins Best Director
Michael Caulfield/WireImage
Only eightwomen have been nominated for Best Directorin Oscars' history, with onlythree taking home the coveted prize. The first was Kathryn Bigelow forThe Hurt Locker(2008).
“This really is, um, there’s no other way to describe it,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It’s the moment of a lifetime.”
Since Bigelow,Chloé Zhaobecamethe second woman ever to winthe award in 2021 forNomadland(2020) andJane Campionbecame the third in 2022 forThe Power of the Dog(2021).
16of 242013: Jennifer Lawrence Trips on Her Way to the StageKevin Winter/GettyJennifer Lawrenceis famous for her quirky realness, which was on full display whenshe tripped up the stairswhile making her way to the Oscars stage to collect her Best Actress award forSilver Linings Playbook(2012). In true J.Law fashion, she took it in stride.“You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell, and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you,“she said in her acceptance speech. “This is nuts.”
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2013: Jennifer Lawrence Trips on Her Way to the Stage
Kevin Winter/Getty
Jennifer Lawrenceis famous for her quirky realness, which was on full display whenshe tripped up the stairswhile making her way to the Oscars stage to collect her Best Actress award forSilver Linings Playbook(2012). In true J.Law fashion, she took it in stride.
“You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell, and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you,“she said in her acceptance speech. “This is nuts.”
17of 242014: Ellen DeGeneres Goes Viral with Celeb SelfieEllen DeGeneres/APIn 2014,Ellen DeGeneresusedher hosting gig at the Oscarsto attempt to break the internet with one verystar-studded selfie. In a snap featuringBradley Cooper,Angelina Jolie, Lawrence,Lupita Nyong’o,Brad Pitt,Julia RobertsandMeryl Streep, among others, she managed to do it.The group photo became the most retweeted photo in X (formerly Twitter) history (at the time) within an hour.
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2014: Ellen DeGeneres Goes Viral with Celeb Selfie
Ellen DeGeneres/AP
In 2014,Ellen DeGeneresusedher hosting gig at the Oscarsto attempt to break the internet with one verystar-studded selfie. In a snap featuringBradley Cooper,Angelina Jolie, Lawrence,Lupita Nyong’o,Brad Pitt,Julia RobertsandMeryl Streep, among others, she managed to do it.
The group photo became the most retweeted photo in X (formerly Twitter) history (at the time) within an hour.
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2016: Leonardo DiCaprio Wins His First Oscar
DiCaprio received yet another Oscar nomination in 2020 for Best Actor inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019),butJoaquin Phoenixtook home the statuette forJoker(2019).
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2017: Envelopegate
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty
It was Feb. 26, 2017. The 89th Academy Awards were nearing its end, with just one award left to give out.Bonnie & ClydestarsWarren BeattyandFaye Dunawaytook the stage to present Best Picture. Upon opening the envelope, Beatty paused. The crowd laughed, and he showed Dunaway the envelope after she urged him along. Dunaway announcedLa La Land(2016) as the winner. The cast and crew took the stage, and the speeches began.
His fellow producer, Jordan Horowitz, took the stage and delivered, perhaps, what are now the most unforgettable words in Oscars history: “There was a mistake.Moonlight,you guys won Best Picture.” He grabbed the correct card from Beatty’s hands, showing it to the crowd. Horowitz added, “I’m going to be really proud to hand this to my friends fromMoonlight.”
Beatty then took to the stage to explain what happened — he and Dunaway had accidentally been given an extra envelope for Best Actress, which read, “Emma Stone,La La Land.” He then presented the award toMoonlight, and directorBarry Jenkinstook the stage.
“Clearly, even in my dreams, this could not be true,” Jenkins began. “But to hell with dreams, I’m done with it. Because this is true.”
Anunprecedented mess that made headlinesfor weeks to come, one thing’s for sure: There will likely never be a bigger moment in Oscar history thanEnvelopegate.
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2019: The Oscars Go Hostless After Controversies
Dan MacMedan/WireImage
The backlash was so intense thatHart ultimately stepped down; however, for a while, the Academyconsidered inviting the comedian backafter hemade the roundsonThe Ellen DeGeneres Show,The Late Show with Stephen ColbertandGood Morning Americaand eventually apologized.
The Oscars moved forward without a host and almost without some of its awards after planners announced that four trophies — Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Live Action Short and Makeup and Hairstyling — would be given out during commercial breaks. Again, the Academy faced backlash, ultimatelyreversing its decisionjust days before the ceremony.
21of 242020: Eminem Delivers a Surprise Performance at the OscarsKevin Winter/Getty ImagesThelast pre-COVID-19 awards showhad lots of memorable moments (Parasite’s wins!Pitt’s first Oscar! Anarmy of Elsas!), but the biggest “OMG” for celebs in the audience and fans at home alike came whenEminemtook the stage toperform “Lose Yourself"18 years after the track won Best Original Song.Eminem infamously ditched the ceremony when his song was nominated in 2003 andthanked the Academy on Xfor allowing him back.
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2020: Eminem Delivers a Surprise Performance at the Oscars
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Thelast pre-COVID-19 awards showhad lots of memorable moments (Parasite’s wins!Pitt’s first Oscar! Anarmy of Elsas!), but the biggest “OMG” for celebs in the audience and fans at home alike came whenEminemtook the stage toperform “Lose Yourself"18 years after the track won Best Original Song.
Eminem infamously ditched the ceremony when his song was nominated in 2003 andthanked the Academy on Xfor allowing him back.
22of 242021: Chloé Zhao Breaks BarriersChris Pizzello-Pool/GettyOnly the seventh woman ever nominated for Best Director, Zhao broke records in 2021 when she won forNomadland, becomingthe first Asian woman(and only the second womanever)to win the category.In her acceptance speech, the director, screenwriter and producerspoke about poems she memorizedwith her father while growing up in China and how they kept her going when life got hard. She said that one that has stuck with her translates to: “People at birth are entirely good.“She continued, “This is for anyone who has the faith and courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and in each other. This is for you; you inspire me to keep going.”
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2021: Chloé Zhao Breaks Barriers
Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty
Only the seventh woman ever nominated for Best Director, Zhao broke records in 2021 when she won forNomadland, becomingthe first Asian woman(and only the second womanever)to win the category.
In her acceptance speech, the director, screenwriter and producerspoke about poems she memorizedwith her father while growing up in China and how they kept her going when life got hard. She said that one that has stuck with her translates to: “People at birth are entirely good.”
She continued, “This is for anyone who has the faith and courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and in each other. This is for you; you inspire me to keep going.”
23of 242022: Will Smith Slaps Chris RockabcIt was the moment that stopped the night: AfterChris Rockhad made aG.I. Jane 2joke directed atJada Pinkett Smith, her husband,Will Smith, walked onstage andsmacked Rock, then returned to his seat before shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—— mouth!“The audience sat in stunned silence as a shocked Rock said, “Wow, dude, it was aG.I. Janejoke,” before presenting the award for Best Documentary.While receiving the trophy for Best Actor for his role inKing Richard(2021) later that evening, Smith addressed the incident during his emotional acceptance speech,apologizing to the Academyand his fellow nominees — but not Rock.Will later resignedfrom the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Academy instituted a10-year ban on the actorfrom attending any of the organization’s events, including the Oscars.
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2022: Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock
abc
It was the moment that stopped the night: AfterChris Rockhad made aG.I. Jane 2joke directed atJada Pinkett Smith, her husband,Will Smith, walked onstage andsmacked Rock, then returned to his seat before shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—— mouth!”
The audience sat in stunned silence as a shocked Rock said, “Wow, dude, it was aG.I. Janejoke,” before presenting the award for Best Documentary.
While receiving the trophy for Best Actor for his role inKing Richard(2021) later that evening, Smith addressed the incident during his emotional acceptance speech,apologizing to the Academyand his fellow nominees — but not Rock.
Will later resignedfrom the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Academy instituted a10-year ban on the actorfrom attending any of the organization’s events, including the Oscars.
24of 242023: Michelle Yeoh’s Historic Best Actress WinMichelle Yeoh at the 95th Annual Academy Awards in March 2023.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via GettyThe 2023 Oscars wasa history-making nightforMichelle Yeoh, who became the first Asian woman — and only the second woman of color — to win Best Actress. The veteran performer won the trophy forEverything Everywhere All at Once(2022), the biggest winner that evening, sweeping seven categories, including Best Picture.“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,“Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. “This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up.“Yeoh’s win marked one of two major milestones for Asian representation at the show: Her costarKe Huy Quan’s Best Supporting Actor win made himthe first Vietnam-born actorto receive an Oscar.
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2023: Michelle Yeoh’s Historic Best Actress Win
Michelle Yeoh at the 95th Annual Academy Awards in March 2023.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
The 2023 Oscars wasa history-making nightforMichelle Yeoh, who became the first Asian woman — and only the second woman of color — to win Best Actress. The veteran performer won the trophy forEverything Everywhere All at Once(2022), the biggest winner that evening, sweeping seven categories, including Best Picture.
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,“Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. “This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”
Yeoh’s win marked one of two major milestones for Asian representation at the show: Her costarKe Huy Quan’s Best Supporting Actor win made himthe first Vietnam-born actorto receive an Oscar.
source: people.com
