In pictures: Memorable moments in Oscars history

CNN

28-02-2025

Rita Moreno was the first Latina actress to win an Oscar, for her supporting role in 1961's 'West Side Story." She later went on to win two Emmys, a Grammy and a Tony, joining the elite group of people to gain EGOT status.There was a rare two-way tie in 1969, when Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn, not pictured, each received 3,030 votes for best actress. It was the first exact tie in a main Oscar category. In 1932, the best actor Oscar was shared by Fredric March and Wallace Beery. Beery actually received one less vote than March, but it resulted in a tie winner according to academy rules of the day.Marlon Brando's role in 'The Godfather' earned him the best actor award, but he didn't attend the 1973 ceremony in protest. Native American actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather attended on his behalf and rejected the award by proxy. 'He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award, and the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television, in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee,' she said in her speech.Oscars host David Niven and the crowd were stunned when a streaker ran across the stage during the 1974 ceremony. 'Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen,' Niven said. 'But isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?' AP
In 1974, Tatum O'Neal became the youngest-ever Oscar winner, a title she still holds to this day. The 10-year-old won best supporting actress for her role in 'Paper Moon,' where she starred alongside her father, Ryan O'Neal.When Louise Fletcher won the best actress award in 1976, for her role in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," she ended her acceptance speech with a personal message to her parents. 'To my mother and my father, I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true,' she said while also communicating through sign language. Both of Fletcher's parents were deaf. AP
Cher's black sequined gown and towering feather headdress from designer Bob Mackie made a statement at the 1986 Oscars, and it has become one of the most memorable outfits in the ceremony's history. 'As you can see, I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress,' she deadpanned into the microphone while presenting the award for best supporting actor. The Legacy Collection/THA/Shutterstock
In 2002, Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win best actress, earning the award for her performance in "Monster's Ball." In a tearful acceptance speech, she said: "This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It's for the women that stand beside me: Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened." Getty Images
Host Ellen DeGeneres gathered some of the most recognizable faces in the crowd for a group selfie during the 2014 Oscars. Bradley Cooper, front right, is taking the photo, which included Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie and Peter Nyong'o. "If only Bradley's arm was longer," DeGeneres wrote in a social media post. "Best photo ever." Ellen DeGeneres/Twitter via Getty Images
An envelope mix-up led to confusion when it was time to announce the best picture winner in 2017. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway initially announced "La La Land" as the winner, but they had been given the envelope for best actress instead. "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz announced the actual winner, "Moonlight," to the audience and held up the winner card for the camera. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
In 2020, "Parasite" became the first non-English language film to win best picture. It also won best original screenplay, best international feature film and best director for Bong Joon Ho, seen here. 'Just to be nominated was a huge honor. I never thought I would win,' he said. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
An evening of historic and diverse winners was overshadowed in 2022 when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, before presenting an award. Will Smith would go on to win the Oscar for best actor later in the night, and in a tearful acceptance speech he apologized to the Academy for the slap. The next month, the Academy punished Smith by banning him from the awards show for 10 years.