- Christopher Plummer accepts the Oscar for best actor in a supporting role for Beginners during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Christopher Plummer took home his
first Oscar Sunday in a career that has spanned more than five decades
for his role in the film "Beginners."
Plummer's victory in the Best Supporting
Actor category made history, with the 82-year-old being the oldest
person ever to win the award.
- George Clooney arrives before the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
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"You're only two years older than me,
darling," Plummer said, addressing his Oscar statue in this 84th year of
the awards. "Where have you been all my life? I have a confession to
make. When I first emerged from my mother's womb, I was already
rehearsing my Oscar speech."
The previous oldest winner was best-actress recipient Jessica Tandy for "Driving Miss Daisy," at age 80.
Octavia Spencer took home the first big acting honor of the night, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The Help."
Spencer's Oscar triumph came for her role as
a headstrong black maid whose willful ways continually land her in
trouble with white employers in 1960s Mississippi.
"Thank you, academy, for putting me with the
hottest guy in the room," Spencer said, referring to last year's
supporting-actor winner Christian Bale, who presented her Oscar.
Her brash character holds a personal
connection: "The Help" author Kathryn Stockett based some of the woman's
traits on Spencer, whom she met through childhood pal Tate Taylor, the
director of the film.
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Before taking the stage, Spencer got kisses
from "The Help" co-stars Viola Davis, a best-actress nominee, and
Jessica Chastain, a fellow supporting nominee.
"I share this with everybody," Spencer said.
"The Artist's" director Michel Hazanavicius won the Best Director Award for the silent film.
Claiming Hollywood's top-filmmaking honor
Sunday completes Hazanavicius' sudden rise from popular movie-maker back
home in France to internationally celebrated director.
Host Billy Crystal kicked things off with a
kiss from actor George Clooney in a parody of the film “The
Descendants.” The scene was part of his opening montage, which also
included his signature goofy song.
Crystal joked about his return to his gig as host, saying “this is my ninth time – just call me War Horse.”
Martin Scorsese's adventure "Hugo" won the
first two prizes of the night, claiming the Oscars for cinematography
and art direction.
"Marty, you're a genius as usual," said
"Hugo" cinematographer Robert Richardson, who won his third Oscar after
previous wins for "JFK" and Scorsese's "The Aviator."
The wins for "Hugo" were a blow to
best-picture favorite "The Artist," which lost in both categories. "The
Artist" ran second to "Hugo" with 10 nominations.
The red carpet had its highlights as well,
with comedian Sacha Baron Cohen walking the carpet dressed as a Moammar
Qaddafi-like dictator for his upcoming film, “The Dictator.” The actor
then managed to spill what he claimed to be the ashes of the late North
Korean dictator Kim Jong Il all over E! News host, Ryan Seacrest.
His stunt got him bum rushed by Oscar security.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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