Whoopi Goldberg; Anne Hathaway; Ellen DeGeneres.Photo: AP Photo; GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images; Michael Caulfield/WireImage/Getty
Hosting theAcademy Awardsis likely one of the most intimidating gigs imaginable. The emcee brave enough totake the stagein front ofHollywood’s biggest starshas a big weight on their shoulders to help smoothly move the show along and hopefully earn a few laughs from the anxious crowd while doing so.Some of the best hosts inOscar historyhave been iconic women who know how to own their time in the spotlight. FromCarol BurnetttoRegina Hall, here are all the talented ladies who have emceed the Academy Awards.
Hosting theAcademy Awardsis likely one of the most intimidating gigs imaginable. The emcee brave enough totake the stagein front ofHollywood’s biggest starshas a big weight on their shoulders to help smoothly move the show along and hopefully earn a few laughs from the anxious crowd while doing so.
Some of the best hosts inOscar historyhave been iconic women who know how to own their time in the spotlight. FromCarol BurnetttoRegina Hall, here are all the talented ladies who have emceed the Academy Awards.
01of 231948: Agnes MooreheadAgnes Moorehead, Dick Powell and Jean Simmons.Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesWhen the Academy Awards were still being broadcast over the radio, Agnes Moorehead — who would one day be known for her role as Endora on theBewitchedseries— had the honor of being the first female co-host in 1948.
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1948: Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead, Dick Powell and Jean Simmons.Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images
When the Academy Awards were still being broadcast over the radio, Agnes Moorehead — who would one day be known for her role as Endora on theBewitchedseries— had the honor of being the first female co-host in 1948.
02of 231955: Thelma RitterThelma Ritter; Bob Hope.20th Century-Fox/Getty Images; Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesTwo years after the Oscars were first televised, comedic actress (and six-time Academy Award nominee) Thelma Ritter co-hosted the 27th annual Oscars withBob Hopein 1955.
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1955: Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter; Bob Hope.20th Century-Fox/Getty Images; Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Two years after the Oscars were first televised, comedic actress (and six-time Academy Award nominee) Thelma Ritter co-hosted the 27th annual Oscars withBob Hopein 1955.
03of 231956: Claudette ColbertJoseph L. Mankiewicz; Claudette Colbert; Jerry Lewis.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images; Bettmann Archive/Getty Images; Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesIn 1956,It Happened One Night(1934) actress Claudette Colbert co-hosted the awards withJerry LewisandJoseph L. Mankiewicz.
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1956: Claudette Colbert
Joseph L. Mankiewicz; Claudette Colbert; Jerry Lewis.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images; Bettmann Archive/Getty Images; Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images
In 1956,It Happened One Night(1934) actress Claudette Colbert co-hosted the awards withJerry LewisandJoseph L. Mankiewicz.
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1957: Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm; Jerry Lewis.Maurice Seymour/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1958: Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell.Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
06of 231972: Helen HayesHelen Hayes.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesIt wasn’t until 1972 that another woman co-hosted the Oscars. Prolific actress andEGOT winnerHelen Hayes hosted alongsideSammy Davis Jr., Alan King and Lemmon.
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1972: Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
It wasn’t until 1972 that another woman co-hosted the Oscars. Prolific actress andEGOT winnerHelen Hayes hosted alongsideSammy Davis Jr., Alan King and Lemmon.
07of 231973: Carol BurnettCarol Burnett.Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesThe hilarious Burnett got her time to shine in 1973 when she co-hosted alongsideMichael Caine, Charlton Heston andRock Hudson.
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1973: Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett.Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The hilarious Burnett got her time to shine in 1973 when she co-hosted alongsideMichael Caine, Charlton Heston andRock Hudson.
08of 231974: Diana RossDiana Ross and husband Robert Ellis Silberstein attend the 46th Academy Awards on April 2, 1974.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesDiana Ross, fresh off the Best Actress nomination in 1973 for her role inLady Sings the Blues, hosted the awards alongside John Huston, Niven andBurt Reynoldsin 1974.
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1974: Diana Ross
Diana Ross and husband Robert Ellis Silberstein attend the 46th Academy Awards on April 2, 1974.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Diana Ross, fresh off the Best Actress nomination in 1973 for her role inLady Sings the Blues, hosted the awards alongside John Huston, Niven andBurt Reynoldsin 1974.
09of 231975: Shirley MacLaineShirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyIn 1975,Shirley MacLainetook on hosting duties alongside Davis Jr., Hope andFrank Sinatra.
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1975: Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
In 1975,Shirley MacLainetook on hosting duties alongside Davis Jr., Hope andFrank Sinatra.
10of 231976: Goldie HawnGoldie Hawn and George Segal were two of the co-hosts of the 48th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1976.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesGoldie Hawnhelped hand out golden statuettes in 1976, co-hosting the Academy Awards with Gene Kelly, Walter Matthau,George Segaland Robert Shaw.
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1976: Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn and George Segal were two of the co-hosts of the 48th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1976.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Goldie Hawnhelped hand out golden statuettes in 1976, co-hosting the Academy Awards with Gene Kelly, Walter Matthau,George Segaland Robert Shaw.
11of 231977: Jane Fonda and Ellen BurstynJane Fonda and Ellen Burstyn were two of the four co-hosts for the Oscars on March 28, 1977.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; AP PhotoIn 1977, actressesJane FondaandEllen Burstynco-hosted the awards withWarren BeattyandRichard Pryor.
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1977: Jane Fonda and Ellen Burstyn
Jane Fonda and Ellen Burstyn were two of the four co-hosts for the Oscars on March 28, 1977.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; AP Photo
In 1977, actressesJane FondaandEllen Burstynco-hosted the awards withWarren BeattyandRichard Pryor.
12of 231983: Liza MinnelliWalter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore and Richard Pryor co-host the 55th Annual Academy Awards.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesSix years later,Liza Minnellihit the stage to share hosting duties with Matthau,Dudley MooreandPryor.
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1983: Liza Minnelli
Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore and Richard Pryor co-host the 55th Annual Academy Awards.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Six years later,Liza Minnellihit the stage to share hosting duties with Matthau,Dudley MooreandPryor.
13of 231985: Glenn Close, Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Diana Ross and Kathleen TurnerThe many co-hosts of the 1985 Oscars.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/GettyLemmon hosted the awards with the help of a seemingly endless list of co-hosts in 1985.Glenn Close,Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Ross andKathleen Turnertook the stage alongsideJeff Bridges,Michael Douglas,Gregory Hines,William HurtandTom Selleck.
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1985: Glenn Close, Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Diana Ross and Kathleen Turner
The many co-hosts of the 1985 Oscars.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
Lemmon hosted the awards with the help of a seemingly endless list of co-hosts in 1985.Glenn Close,Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Ross andKathleen Turnertook the stage alongsideJeff Bridges,Michael Douglas,Gregory Hines,William HurtandTom Selleck.
14of 231986: Jane FondaJane Fonda gives Cory Aquino support sign at opening of telecast of 58th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.AP Photo/Reed SaxonFondareturned to hosting duties in 1986 withAlan AldaandRobin Williams. The actress, known for her political activism,flashed a hand gesturein support of Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the first female president of the Philippines, during the opening monologue.
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1986: Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda gives Cory Aquino support sign at opening of telecast of 58th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.AP Photo/Reed Saxon
Fondareturned to hosting duties in 1986 withAlan AldaandRobin Williams. The actress, known for her political activism,flashed a hand gesturein support of Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the first female president of the Philippines, during the opening monologue.
15of 231987: Goldie HawnGoldie Hawn co-hosted the 1987 Academy Awards.Bettmann/Corbis/Getty ImagesIn 1987, Hawn returned to co-host the awards withChevy ChaseandPaul Hogan.
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1987: Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn co-hosted the 1987 Academy Awards.Bettmann/Corbis/Getty Images
In 1987, Hawn returned to co-host the awards withChevy ChaseandPaul Hogan.
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1994: Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg hosts the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 21, 1994.AP Photo
Goldberg is no stranger to making Oscar history asher Best Actress nomination forThe Color Purplewas the first time multiple Black actresses from the same film were nominated (along with Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey’s nods for Best Supporting Actress). She also became the second Black actress to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her role inGhost(1990).
The hosting gig earned the comedian anEmmynomination.
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1996: Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg opens the show as host at the 68th Academy Awards on March 25, 1996.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Goldberg returned to the Oscars stage in 1996 and earned another Emmy nomination for hosting. ShetoldVarietyin 2021 that she “loved” the job.
18of 231999: Whoopi GoldbergOscars host Whoopi Goldberg shows off one of the many costumes she wore during the 71st Academy Awards on March 21, 1999.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty ImagesGoldberg returned to the Oscars for a third time in 1999, wearing a memorable array of costumes. She opened the showdressed as Queen Elizabethin full regalia — a nod to nominations forShakespeare in LoveandElizabeth— and was even introduced as Her Majesty Whoopi Goldberg. She also sashayed onstage in ametallic ensemble and electric blue wigto present Costume Design nomineeVelvet Goldmine(1998).
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1999: Whoopi Goldberg
Oscars host Whoopi Goldberg shows off one of the many costumes she wore during the 71st Academy Awards on March 21, 1999.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Goldberg returned to the Oscars for a third time in 1999, wearing a memorable array of costumes. She opened the showdressed as Queen Elizabethin full regalia — a nod to nominations forShakespeare in LoveandElizabeth— and was even introduced as Her Majesty Whoopi Goldberg. She also sashayed onstage in ametallic ensemble and electric blue wigto present Costume Design nomineeVelvet Goldmine(1998).
19of 232002: Whoopi GoldbergWhoopi Goldberg hosts the 2002 Academy Awards.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty ImagesGoldberg returned to the Oscars for a fourth and (so far) final time (you never know what the future holds!) in 2002. She entered in style, donning aMoulin Rouge-inspired outfit while sitting on a swing that flew in from above.“I had a great time,” Goldberg toldVarietyof her past hosting gigs in 2021. “The critics didn’t love me, but I never cared much what the critics thought as long as people had a good time.”
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2002: Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg hosts the 2002 Academy Awards.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Goldberg returned to the Oscars for a fourth and (so far) final time (you never know what the future holds!) in 2002. She entered in style, donning aMoulin Rouge-inspired outfit while sitting on a swing that flew in from above.
“I had a great time,” Goldberg toldVarietyof her past hosting gigs in 2021. “The critics didn’t love me, but I never cared much what the critics thought as long as people had a good time.”
20of 232007: Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres hosting the 2007 Oscars.Michael Caulfield/WireImageIn 2007,Ellen DeGeneresstepped up to the plate to try her hand at hosting the Oscars. The comedian and talk show host endeared herself to the crowd with some quick housekeeping —literally vacuuming in the audience.Her stint as host earned her an Emmy nomination.
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2007: Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres hosting the 2007 Oscars.Michael Caulfield/WireImage
In 2007,Ellen DeGeneresstepped up to the plate to try her hand at hosting the Oscars. The comedian and talk show host endeared herself to the crowd with some quick housekeeping —literally vacuuming in the audience.
Her stint as host earned her an Emmy nomination.
21of 232011: Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway and James Franco co-host the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty ImagesAnne Hathawaywas tasked with hosting the prestigious awards alongsideJames Francoin 2011, though the result left much to be desired from fans.“Hey, can I dish some tea?I turned that gig down, and James is the one that convinced me to do it,” Hathaway told PEOPLE in 2019.She continued, “When all the dust settled, I was just like, ‘You gotta be kidding me. Your first instinct is usually the right one.’ And all the reasons why I turned it down came true. All of them. It’s just a no-win situation. You’re not trained at this, how is this going to enhance your life? All of the reasons why. Even the people who do it spectacularly well — likeHugh Jackman,Jimmy Kimmel, DeGeneres — usually just get a ‘meh’ from everyone. It’s a really hard gig to stick the landing on.”
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2011: Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway and James Franco co-host the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images
Anne Hathawaywas tasked with hosting the prestigious awards alongsideJames Francoin 2011, though the result left much to be desired from fans.
“Hey, can I dish some tea?I turned that gig down, and James is the one that convinced me to do it,” Hathaway told PEOPLE in 2019.
She continued, “When all the dust settled, I was just like, ‘You gotta be kidding me. Your first instinct is usually the right one.’ And all the reasons why I turned it down came true. All of them. It’s just a no-win situation. You’re not trained at this, how is this going to enhance your life? All of the reasons why. Even the people who do it spectacularly well — likeHugh Jackman,Jimmy Kimmel, DeGeneres — usually just get a ‘meh’ from everyone. It’s a really hard gig to stick the landing on.”
22of 232014: Ellen DeGeneresHost Ellen DeGeneres during the telecast of the 86th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesDeGeneres returned to host the show in 2014, ensuring the broadcast was jam-packed withunforgettable moments. Who could forget the mostincredible A-list selfieor the impromptu celebrity pizza party?
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2014: Ellen DeGeneres
Host Ellen DeGeneres during the telecast of the 86th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
DeGeneres returned to host the show in 2014, ensuring the broadcast was jam-packed withunforgettable moments. Who could forget the mostincredible A-list selfieor the impromptu celebrity pizza party?
23of 232022: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes2022 Oscars hosts Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesNearly a decade later (and afterthree years without a host),Amy Schumer, Regina Hall andWanda Sykeshosted the 2022 Oscars together. They made history as the first all-female hosting team, with each emcee hosting one hour of the show.HalltoldETthat she asked Goldberg for advice, saying, “The biggest thing [she said] was to have fun and celebrate why you’re there. Celebrate the nominees, the movies, the films, and keep the show moving, which I know people obviously want, you know? She really wanted me to have a lot of fun with it onstage.“The three hosts demonstrated palpable chemistry and quick-wittedness. After the unforgettable moment whenWill SmithslappedChris Rockfollowing a joke about his wife,Jada Pinkett Smith, Schumer broke the tension with an unscripted joke. When she returned to the stage after a costume change, she said, “I’ve been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything? There’s, like, a different vibe in here.” Critics applauded her for bringing some much-needed levity to ahigh-stress situation.While the2022 Oscarswere regarded assomewhat out of control, Schumer, Hall and Sykes shone in the face of unprecedented show-biz challenges.
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2022: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes
2022 Oscars hosts Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Nearly a decade later (and afterthree years without a host),Amy Schumer, Regina Hall andWanda Sykeshosted the 2022 Oscars together. They made history as the first all-female hosting team, with each emcee hosting one hour of the show.
HalltoldETthat she asked Goldberg for advice, saying, “The biggest thing [she said] was to have fun and celebrate why you’re there. Celebrate the nominees, the movies, the films, and keep the show moving, which I know people obviously want, you know? She really wanted me to have a lot of fun with it onstage.”
The three hosts demonstrated palpable chemistry and quick-wittedness. After the unforgettable moment whenWill SmithslappedChris Rockfollowing a joke about his wife,Jada Pinkett Smith, Schumer broke the tension with an unscripted joke. When she returned to the stage after a costume change, she said, “I’ve been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything? There’s, like, a different vibe in here.” Critics applauded her for bringing some much-needed levity to ahigh-stress situation.
While the2022 Oscarswere regarded assomewhat out of control, Schumer, Hall and Sykes shone in the face of unprecedented show-biz challenges.
source: people.com
