From Hope to Hathaway: A host of Oscar hosts
Published 3:36 pm Thursday, December 2, 2010
LOS ANGELES — James Franco and Anne Hathaway might not seem like the most obvious candidates to host the Oscars, but they’re certainly not the first acting team — or even the most unusual partners — to sign up for the high-profile assignment. Here’s a look back at some of the show’s memorable emcees.
The comedians
Bob Hope: The comic became an Academy Awards mainstay, hosting or co-hosting the Oscars 18 times from 1940 to 1978. In 1959, he led an eclectic group of hosts that included Jerry Lewis, David Niven, Laurence Olivier, Tony Randall and Mort Sahl.
Johnny Carson: The “Tonight Show” legend moonlighted as Oscar host beginning with the 51st ceremony in 1979; he went on to host the show four more times.
Jerry Lewis: The outrageous funnyman co-hosted the 28th Academy Awards in 1956 in LA, while Claudette Colbert and writer-director Joseph Mankiewicz hosted a satellite ceremony in New York. He revisited the role in 1957 in LA, with Celeste Holm serving as the East Coast host.
Chevy Chase: The “Saturday Night Live” alum co-hosted the 59th Oscars in 1987 with “Crocodile Dundee” star Paul Hogan and Goldie Hawn; he went solo the following year.
Billy Crystal: Considered one of the best of the contemporary comedic hosts, Crystal began his Oscar run with the 62nd telecast in 1990 and remained on the job through 1993. He also hosted in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004.
Whoopi Goldberg: Goldberg, the first African-American to win the supporting actress Oscar (for 1990’s “Ghost) since Hattie McDaniel won in the category for 1939’s “Gone With the Wind,” began her stint as host with the 66th award ceremony in 1994. She returned in 1996, 1999 and 2002.
Steve Martin: When Martin teamed with his “It’s Complicated” co-star Alec Baldwin to co-host this year’s ceremony, it was his third Oscar hosting appearance. He made his solo debut with the 73rd award show in 2001 and returned to the job in 2003.
The actors
Fred Astaire: The dancer and musical comedy star waltzed across the stage for the 23rd Academy Awards in 1951.
Jack Lemmon: The two-time Oscar winner hosted the 36th ceremony in 1964 and the 57th awards in 1985; he co-hosted (with Hope, Niven, Rosalind Russell, James Stewart and Donald Duck!) the telecast in 1958 and the 44th awards (with Helen Hayes, Alan King and Sammy Davis Jr.) in 1972.
Frank Sinatra: The Chairman of the Board hosted the 35th Oscar telecast in 1963 and co-hosted the 47th awards with Hope, Davis and Shirley MacLaine in 1975.
The filmmakers
Frank Capra: The Oscar-winning director of “It Happened One Night,” “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” and “You Can’t Take It With You” was president of the Motion Picture Academy when he hosted the eighth awards in 1936 and the 11th ceremony in 1939 (“You Can’t Take It With You” was the big winner that night).
John Cromwell: The director of such classics as “Of Human Bondage’ and father of actor James Cromwell co-hosted (with Hope) the 17th award ceremony in 1945.
The ensembles
“Friends of Oscar”: The 41st Oscar ceremony recruited an array of stars: Sinatra, Ingrid Bergman, Diahann Carroll, Tony Curtis, Jane Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Walter Matthau, Sidney Poitier and Natalie Wood.
Carol Burnett: The comedian teamed with Michael Caine, who was nominated for lead actor for his turn in “Sleuth,” Charlton Heston and Rock Hudson to host the 45th awards in 1973.
Richard Pryor: The comedic performer joined Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn and Warren Beatty to host the 49th Oscars in 1977.
