Why the ‘Oscars’ and Other Little Known Fun Facts About the Academy Awards

Three actors have won Oscars for playing characters with no spoken lines. Jane Wyman won best actress for her portrayal of a deaf mute in “Johnny Belinda” (1948), Sir John Mills won best supporting actor for his role as a mute in “Ryan’s Daughter” (1970), and Holly Hunter won best actress for her portrayal of a mute in “The Piano” (1993).

Cinematographer Hal Mohr is the only person to win an award via write-in votes, as opposed to being nominated and then selected by voters. Even though he was not officially nominated, Mohr took home the award for best cinematography at the 1936 Academy Awards for his work on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster epic “The Godfather: Part II” (1974) is the only sequel to have won the Academy Award for best picture.

The oldest actor to ever win an Oscar was Christopher Plummer, who won the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for his work in “Beginners.” At the time he was 82. Plummer, who was nominated for the same award at 88 for his work in “All the Money in the World,” is the oldest nominated actor as well.

Alfred Hitchcock, the acclaimed director of films such as “Rear Window” (1954) and “Psycho” (1960), was nominated for best director five times, yet never won.