Oscar Trivia
Did you know:
- For the first time since 1975, the list of Oscar nominees includes three black actors. During its 74-year history, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has handed out only six Oscar statuettes to African-American actors -- five for supporting roles. (Sidney Poitier won for Best Actor for his performance in 1963's "Lilies of the Field."
- The Academy created a new category this year: Best Animated Feature. The nominees are "Shrek," "Monsters, Inc." and "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius."
- Membership to the Academy, an organization composed of over 6,000 motion picture artists and craftsmen and women, is by invitation only.
- Shirley Temple was the youngest person ever to win a juvenile Academy Award at age six, and Tatum O'Neal was the youngest winner of a competitive Academy Award for "Paper Moon" at the tender age of 10.
- Three films have the distinction of winning Academy Awards in the categories of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Writing: 1934's "It Happened One Night," 1975's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs."
- Walt Disney holds the record for more Oscar nominations than any other person with a stunning 64 nominations.
- Katharine Hepburn and Meryl Streep are tied for having the greatest number of acting Academy Award nominations -- 12. Hepburn has the most wins with four Leading Actress Oscars.
- Only two women have ever been nominated for achievement in directing: Jane Campion for 1993's "The Piano" and Lina Wertmuller for 1976's "Seven Beauties."
- It takes 20 hours and 12 people to make a the 13 ½ inch Oscar statuette and of the 2,365 awarded, three have been refused. Walt Disney was honored with one full size and seven miniature statuettes on behalf of his animated feature "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
- Chef Wolfgang Puck will create a multi-course, sit-down dinner for 1,650 guests on Oscar night.
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