Has Anyone Named Oscar Ever Won An Oscar?
It’s almost time for the 2020 Oscars! The ceremony is one of Hollywood’s most important events, where the biggest stars find out who will take home the most prestigious prizes in the industry. The event has existed for 90 years and continues to attract viewers far and wide. But have you ever wondered: Has anyone named Oscar ever won an Oscar? Let’s talk about it.
A quick history of the Academy Awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences formed in 1927 as a nonprofit organization that aimed to advance the film industry, according to History. Two years later, the academy hosted the first ceremony at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, honoring films that came out in 1927 and 1928. There was no broadcast and only a couple hundred guests in attendance. But it went on to become a mainstay in the entertainment industry.
Years later in 1939, the academy adopted the nickname “Oscar.” Although nothing has been confirmed, it’s been alleged that academy librarian and executive director Margaret Herrick believed the trophy resembled her Uncle Oscar. While we’d love to show you a photo, there are no available pictures for comparison.
In the years that followed, the academy has awarded thousands of trophies. But has an actual person named Oscar won anything?
Only 1 Oscar has won at the Academy Awards
Only one man named Oscar has won an Oscar: songwriter Oscar Hammerstein II. He took home a trophy at the 14th ceremony in 1942 for the song “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” which is featured in the musical Lady Be Good (1941). Hammerstein also won at the 18th Oscars in 1946 for the track “It Might as Well Be Spring” from the musical State Fair (1945).
Although he’s the only one who successfully snagged an award, many other Oscars have gotten close. At least four others received nominations — the most recent being screenwriter Oscar Brodney. Brodney was nominated at the 27th Oscars in 1955 for his work on The Glenn Miller Story (1954), a biographical flick about the eponymous artist who disappeared while flying over the English Channel in 1944.
What to know about the 2020 Oscars
The 2020 Oscars will air Sunday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The psychological thriller Joker is in the lead with 11 nominations. Coming right behind with 10 nods each are The Irishman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and 1917. Other movies that received nominations include Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Little Women, Avengers: Endgame, and The Lion King.
Guests will gather at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the venue for the ceremony since 2002. For the second time in history, there will not be a host. But there’s a laundry list of stars expected to take the stage to present the awards. All in all, it looks like there’s a lot in store for viewers. So keep the remote close.
