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Only one person named Oscar has ever won an Oscar

Ben Thompson

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| Last updated 

Only one person named Oscar has ever won an Oscar

Featured Image Credit: Everett Collection Inc / Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo

The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will be taking place tonight (12 March), but nobody named Oscar is set to take one home themselves.

In fact, in the 95 years that the Academy Awards have been hosted, only one Oscar has been able to get his hands on a golden statue.

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That would be Oscar Hammerstein II, a lyricist with over 850 songs to his name.

Hammerstein has won two Oscars for Best Original Song - first for 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' in the 1941 flick Lady Be Good and again for 'It Might As Well Be Spring' in State Fair, released four years later.

So it's been nearly eighty years since an Oscar snagged a win - Oscar Isaac may soon rectify this in the upcoming years however.

Other famous Oscars that have been nominated, but not won, include actor Oscar Homolka and writers Oscar Millard and Oscar Brodney.

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It's not known definitely why the Academy Awards came to be known as the Oscars.

Oscar Hammerstein II is the only Oscar to have won an Oscar. Credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
Oscar Hammerstein II is the only Oscar to have won an Oscar. Credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Since the moniker was adopted in 1939, Bette Davis has been credited with coming up with it, in honour of her first husband Harmon Oscar Nelson.

But the name has also been credited to Academy executive secretary Margaret Herrick who allegedly saw the award in 1931 and said it looked like her 'Uncle Oscar'.

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Whoever came up with the name, the Oscars have long been the pinnacle of Hollywood award shows.

Jimmy Kimmel is hosting this year's edition, with films such as All Quiet On The Western Front, Everything Everywhere All At Once and Avatar: The Way Of Water in the running for Best Picture.

Austin Butler's performance as Elvis Presley will be competing for Best Actor against the likes of Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser and Bill Nighy.

The Oscars have long been the pinnacle of Hollywood award shows. Credit: Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
The Oscars have long been the pinnacle of Hollywood award shows. Credit: Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
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Over in the women's category, Cate Blanchett is facing competition from Michelle Yeoh, Michelle Williams and Ana de Armas.

Everything Everywhere All at Once has the highest number of nominations with an eye watering 11, closely followed by All Quiet On The Western Front and The Banshees Of Insherin with nine each.

It's expected to be a big night full of famous faces, as many actors will be taking on presenting duties, including Pedro Pascal, Jennifer Connolly and Michael B. Jordan.

It remains to be seen whether this year's edition will generate the headlines that were seen last year, when Will Smith took to the stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock.

Topics: Film & TV, Academy Awards, Oscars, Celebrity

Ben Thompson
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