name	Academy Award
current awards	84th Academy Awards
alt	An Academy Award statuette, depicting a knight, rendered in Art Deco style, holding a crusader's sword
description	Excellence in cinematic achievements
presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
country	United States
year	May 16, 1929
website	www.oscars.org }}

An Academy Award is an award bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors and writers. The Oscar statuette is officially named the Academy Award of Merit and is one of nine types of Academy Awards.

The formal ceremony at which the Awards of Merit are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world, and is televised live in more than 100 countries annually. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media; its equivalents, the Grammy Awards (for music), Emmy Awards (for television), and Tony Awards (for theatre) are modeled after the Academy.

The AMPAS was originally conceived by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer as a professional honorary organization to help improve the film industry’s image and help mediate labor disputes. The Oscar itself was later initiated by the Academy as an award "of merit for distinctive achievement" in the industry.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor the outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season. The 84th Academy Awards, honoring films in 2011, was held at the Hollywood and Highland Center on February 26, 2012.

History [link]

The first awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private brunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post Academy Awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for that night's ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking industry of the time for their works during the 1927–1928 period.

Winners had been announced three months earlier; however that was changed in the second ceremony of the Academy Awards in 1930. Since then and during the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 pm on the night of the awards. This method was used until the ''Los Angeles Times'' announced the winners before the ceremony began; as a result, the Academy has used a sealed envelope to reveal the name of the winners since 1941.

For the first six ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned two calendar years. For example, the 2nd Academy Awards presented on April 3, 1930, recognized films that were released between August 1, 1928 and July 31, 1929. Starting with the 7th Academy Awards, held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings, for his performances in ''The Last Command'' and ''The Way of All Flesh''. He had to return to Europe before the ceremony, so the Academy agreed to give him the prize earlier; this made him the first Academy Award winner in history. The honored professionals were awarded for all the work done in a certain category for the qualifying period; for example, Jannings received the award for two movies in which he starred during that period. Since the fourth ceremony, the system changed, and professionals were honored for a specific performance in a single film. , a total of 2,809 Oscars have been given for 1,853 awards. A total of 302 actors have won Oscars in competitive acting categories or have been awarded Honorary or Juvenile Awards.

The 1939 film ''Beau Geste'' is the only movie that features as many as four Academy Award winners for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Susan Hayward, Broderick Crawford) prior to any of the actors receiving the Best Actor Award.

At the 29th ceremony, held on March 27, 1957, the Best Foreign Language Film category was introduced. Until then, foreign-language films were honored with the Special Achievement Award.

Oscar statuette [link]

Design [link]

Although there are seven other types of annual awards presented by the Academy (the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the Gordon E. Sawyer Award, the Scientific and Engineering Award, the Technical Achievement Award, the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation, and the Student Academy Award) plus two awards that are not presented annually (the Special Achievement Award in the form of an Oscar statuette and the Honorary Award that may or may not be in the form of an Oscar statuette), the best known one is the ''Academy Award of Merit'' more popularly known as the Oscar statuette. Made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base, it is 13.5 in (34 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 lb (3.85 kg) and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a crusader's sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes. The five spokes each represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.

In 1928, MGM's art director Cedric Gibbons, one of the original Academy members, supervised the design of the award trophy by printing the design on a scroll. In need of a model for his statuette, Gibbons was introduced by his future wife Dolores del Río to Mexican film director and actor Emilio "El Indio" Fernández. Reluctant at first, Fernández was finally convinced to pose nude to create what today is known as the "Oscar". Then, sculptor George Stanley (who also did the Muse Fountain at the Hollywood Bowl) sculpted Gibbons's design in clay and Sachin Smith cast the statuette in 92.5 percent tin and 7.5 percent copper and then gold-plated it. The only addition to the Oscar since it was created is a minor streamlining of the base. The original Oscar mold was cast in 1928 at the C.W. Shumway & Sons Foundry in Batavia, Illinois, which also contributed to casting the molds for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Emmy Awards statuettes. Since 1983, approximately 50 Oscars are made each year in Chicago by Illinois manufacturer R.S. Owens & Company.

In support of the American effort in World War II, the statuettes were made of plaster and were traded in for gold ones after the war had ended.

Naming [link]

The root of the name ''Oscar'' is contested. One biography of Bette Davis claims that she named the Oscar after her first husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson; one of the earliest mentions in print of the term ''Oscar'' dates back to a ''Time'' magazine article about the 1934 6th Academy Awards. Walt Disney is also quoted as thanking the Academy for his Oscar as early as 1932. Another claimed origin is that the Academy's Executive Secretary, Margaret Herrick, first saw the award in 1931 and made reference to the statuette's reminding her of her "Uncle Oscar" (a nickname for her cousin Oscar Pierce). Columnist Sidney Skolsky was present during Herrick's naming and seized the name in his byline, "Employees have affectionately dubbed their famous statuette 'Oscar'". The trophy was officially dubbed the "Oscar" in 1939 by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Another legend reports that the Norwegian-American Eleanor Lilleberg, executive secretary to Louis B. Mayer, saw the first statuette and exclaimed, "It looks like King Oscar II!". At the end of the day she asked, "What should we do with Oscar, put him in the vault?" and the name stuck.

Ownership of Oscar statuettes [link]

Since 1950, the statuettes have been legally encumbered by the requirement that neither winners nor their heirs may sell the statuettes without first offering to sell them back to the Academy for US$1. If a winner refuses to agree to this stipulation, then the Academy keeps the statuette. Academy Awards not protected by this agreement have been sold in public auctions and private deals for six-figure sums. In December 2011, Orson Welles' 1941 Oscar for ''Citizen Kane'' was put up for auction, after his heirs won a 2004 court decision that Welles did not sign any agreement to return the statue to the Academy.

While the Oscar is under the ownership of the recipient, it is essentially not on the open market. The case of Michael Todd's grandson trying to sell Todd's Oscar statuette illustrates that there are some who do not agree with this idea. When Todd's grandson attempted to sell Todd's Oscar statuette to a movie prop collector, the Academy won the legal battle by getting a permanent injunction. Although Oscar sales transactions have been successful, some buyers have subsequently returned the statuettes to the Academy, which keeps them in its treasury.

Nomination [link]

Since 2004, Academy Award nomination results have been announced to the public in late January. Prior to that, the results were announced in early February.

Voters [link]

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional honorary organization, maintains a voting membership of 5,783 .

Academy membership is divided into different branches, with each representing a different discipline in film production. Actors constitute the largest voting bloc, numbering 1,311 members (22 percent) of the Academy's composition. Votes have been certified by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (and its predecessor Price Waterhouse) for the past 73 annual awards ceremonies.

All AMPAS members must be invited to join by the Board of Governors, on behalf of Academy Branch Executive Committees. Membership eligibility may be achieved by a competitive nomination or a member may submit a name based on other significant contribution to the field of motion pictures.

New membership proposals are considered annually. The Academy does not publicly disclose its membership, although as recently as 2007 press releases have announced the names of those who have been invited to join. The 2007 release also stated that it has just under 6,000 voting members. While the membership had been growing, stricter policies have kept its size steady since then.

In May 2011, the Academy sent a letter advising its 6,000 or so voting members that an online system for Oscar voting will be implemented in 2013.

Rules [link]

Currently, according to Rules 2 and 3 of the official Academy Awards Rules, a film must open in the previous calendar year, from midnight at the start of January 1 to midnight at the end of December 31, in Los Angeles County, California, to qualify (except for the Best Foreign Language Film). For example, the 2010 Best Picture winner, ''The Hurt Locker'', was actually first released in 2008, but did not qualify for the 2009 awards as it did not play its Oscar-qualifying run in Los Angeles until mid-2009, thus qualifying for the 2010 awards.

Rule 2 states that a film must be feature-length, defined as a minimum of 40 minutes, except for short subject awards, and it must exist either on a 35 mm or 70 mm film print or in 24 frame/s or 48 frame/s progressive scan digital cinema format with native resolution not less than 1280x720.

Producers must submit an Official Screen Credits online form before the deadline; in case it is not submitted by the defined deadline, the film will be ineligible for Academy Awards in any year. The form includes the production credits for all related categories. Then, each form is checked and put in a Reminder List of Eligible Releases.

In late December ballots and copies of the Reminder List of Eligible Releases are mailed to around 6000 active members. For most categories, members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees only in their respective categories (i.e. only directors vote for directors, writers for writers, actors for actors, etc.). There are some exceptions in the case of certain categories, like Foreign Film, Documentary and Animated Feature Film, in which movies are selected by special screening committees made up of members from all branches. In the special case of Best Picture, all voting members are eligible to select the nominees for that category. Foreign films must include English subtitles, and each country can submit only one film per year.

The members of the various branches nominate those in their respective fields, while all members may submit nominees for Best Picture. The winners are then determined by a second round of voting in which all members are then allowed to vote in most categories, including Best Picture.

Ceremony [link]

Telecast [link]

The major awards are presented at a live televised ceremony, most commonly in February or March following the relevant calendar year, and six weeks after the announcement of the nominees. It is the culmination of the film awards season, which usually begins during November or December of the previous year. This is an elaborate extravaganza, with the invited guests walking up the red carpet in the creations of the most prominent fashion designers of the day. Black tie dress is the most common outfit for men, although fashion may dictate not wearing a bow-tie, and musical performers sometimes do not adhere to this. (The artists who recorded the nominees for Best Original Song quite often perform those songs live at the awards ceremony, and the fact that they are performing is often used to promote the television broadcast).

The Academy Awards is televised live across the United States (excluding Hawaii; they aired live for the first time in Alaska in 2011), Canada, the United Kingdom, and gathers millions of viewers elsewhere throughout the world. The 2007 ceremony was watched by more than 40 million Americans. Other awards ceremonies (such as the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys) are broadcast live in the East Coast but are on tape delay in the West Coast and might not air on the same day outside North America (if the awards are even televised). The Academy has for several years claimed that the award show has up to a billion viewers internationally, but this has so far not been confirmed by any independent sources. The Awards show was first televised on NBC in 1953. NBC continued to broadcast the event until 1960 when the ABC Network took over, televising the festivities through 1970, after which NBC resumed the broadcasts. ABC once again took over broadcast duties in 1976; it is under contract to do so through the year 2020.

After more than sixty years of being held in late March or early April, the ceremonies were moved up to late February or early March starting in 2004 to help disrupt and shorten the intense lobbying and ad campaigns associated with Oscar season in the film industry. Another reason was because of the growing TV ratings success of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, which would cut into the Academy Awards audience. The earlier date is also to the advantage of ABC, as it now usually occurs during the highly profitable and important February sweeps period. (Some years, the ceremony is moved into early March in deference to the Winter Olympics.) Advertising is somewhat restricted, however, as traditionally no movie studios or competitors of official Academy Award sponsors may advertise during the telecast. The Awards show holds the distinction of having won the most Emmys in history, with 47 wins and 195 nominations.

After many years of being held on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m Pacific, in 1999 the ceremonies were moved to Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Pacific. The reasons given for the move were that more viewers would tune in on Sundays, that Los Angeles rush-hour traffic jams could be avoided, and that an earlier start time would allow viewers on the East Coast to go to bed earlier. For many years the film industry had opposed a Sunday broadcast because it would cut into the weekend box office.

On March 30, 1981, the awards ceremony was postponed for one day after the shooting of President Ronald Reagan and others in Washington, D.C.

In 1993, an ''In Memoriam'' segment was introduced, honoring those who had made a significant contribution to cinema who had died in the preceding 12 months, a selection compiled by a small committee of Academy members. This segment has drawn criticism over the years for the omission of some names.

In 2010, the organizers of the Academy Awards announced that winners' acceptance speeches must not run past 45 seconds. This, according to organizer Bill Mechanic, was to ensure the elimination of what he termed "the single most hated thing on the show" – overly long and embarrassing displays of emotion.

The Academy has also had recent discussions about moving the ceremony even further back into January, citing TV viewers' fatigue with the film industry's long awards season. But such an accelerated schedule would dramatically decrease the voting period for its members, to the point where some voters would only have time to view the contending films streamed on their computers (as opposed to traditionally receiving the films and ballots in the mail). Also, a January ceremony may have to compete with National Football League playoff games.

Awards ceremonies [link]

The following is a listing of all Academy Awards ceremonies since 1929.

Historically, the "Oscarcast" has pulled in a bigger haul when box-office hits are favored to win the Best Picture trophy. More than 57.25 million viewers tuned to the telecast for the 70th Academy Awards in 1998, the year of ''Titanic'', which generated close to US$600 million at the North American box office pre-Oscars. The 76th Academy Awards ceremony in which ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (pre-telecast box office earnings of US$368 million) received 11 Awards including Best Picture drew 43.56 million viewers. The most watched ceremony based on Nielsen ratings to date, however, was the 42nd Academy Awards (Best Picture ''Midnight Cowboy'') which drew a 43.4% household rating on April 7, 1970.

By contrast, ceremonies honoring films that have not performed well at the box office tend to show weaker ratings. The 78th Academy Awards which awarded low-budgeted, independent film ''Crash'' (with a pre-Oscar gross of US$53.4 million) generated an audience of 38.64 million with a household rating of 22.91%. In 2008, the 80th Academy Awards telecast was watched by 31.76 million viewers on average with an 18.66% household rating, the lowest rated and least watched ceremony to date, in spite of celebrating 80 years of the Academy Awards. The Best Picture winner of that particular ceremony was another low-budget, independently financed film (''No Country for Old Men'').

Venues [link]

In 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented at a banquet dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. From 1930–1943, the ceremony alternated between two venues: the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard and the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood then hosted the awards from 1944 to 1946, followed by the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles from 1947 to 1948. The 21st Academy Awards in 1949 were held at the Academy Award Theater at what was the Academy's headquarters on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.

From 1950 to 1960, the awards were presented at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre. With the advent of television, the 1953–1957 awards took place simultaneously in Hollywood and New York first at the NBC International Theatre (1953) and then at the NBC Century Theatre (1954–1957), after which the ceremony took place solely in Los Angeles. The Oscars moved to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California in 1961. By 1969, the Academy decided to move the ceremonies back to Los Angeles, this time to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Music Center.

In 2002, the Kodak Theatre became the permanent home of the award ceremonies. However, due to Eastman Kodak's bankruptcy issues, this theatre was renamed the Hollywood and Highland Center in the days preceding the February 26, 2012, awards ceremony.

Academy Awards of Merit [link]

Current awards [link]

Best Actor in a Leading Role: since 1928

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: since 1936

Best Actress in a Leading Role: since 1928

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: since 1936

Best Animated Feature: since 2001

Best Animated Short Film: since 1931

Best Art Direction: since 1928

Best Cinematography: since 1928

Best Costume Design: since 1948

Best Director: since 1928

Best Documentary Feature: since 1943

Best Documentary Short: since 1941

Best Film Editing: since 1935

Best Foreign Language Film: since 1947

Best Live Action Short Film: since 1931

Best Makeup: since 1981

Best Original Score: since 1934

Best Original Song: since 1934

Best Picture: since 1928

Best Sound Editing: since 1963

Best Sound Mixing: since 1930

Best Visual Effects: since 1939

Best Adapted Screenplay: since 1928

Best Original Screenplay: since 1940

In the first year of the awards, the Best Director award was split into two separate categories (Drama and Comedy). At times, the Best Original Score award has also been split into separate categories (Drama and Comedy/Musical). From the 1930s through the 1960s, the Art Direction, Cinematography, and Costume Design awards were likewise split into two separate categories (black-and-white films and color films).

Another award, entitled the Academy Award for Best Original Musical, is still in the Academy rulebooks and has yet to be retired. However, due to continuous insufficient eligibility each year, it has not been awarded since 1984 (when ''Purple Rain'' won).

Retired awards [link]

Best Assistant Director: 1933 to 1937

Best Dance Direction: 1935 to 1937

Best Engineering Effects: 1928 only

Best Original Musical or Comedy Score: 1995 to 1999

Best Original Story: 1928 to 1956

Best Score – Adaptation or Treatment: 1962 to 1969; 1973

Best Short Film – Color: 1936 and 1937

Best Short Film – Live Action – 2 Reels: 1936 to 1956

Best Short Film – Novelty: 1932 to 1935

Best Title Writing: 1928 only

Best Unique and Artistic Quality of Production: 1928 only

Proposed awards [link]

The Board of Governors meets each year and considers new awards. To date, the following proposed awards have not been approved:

Best Casting: rejected in 1999 Best Stunt Coordination: rejected in 1999; rejected in 2005; rejected in 2011 Best Title Design: rejected in 1999

Special Academy Awards [link]

These awards are voted on by special committees, rather than by the Academy membership as a whole. They are not always presented on a consistent annual basis.

Current special awards [link]

Academy Honorary Award: since 1929

Academy Scientific and Technical Award: since 1931

Gordon E. Sawyer Award: since 1981

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: since 1956

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award: since 1938

Retired special awards [link]

Academy Juvenile Award: 1934 to 1960

Academy Special Achievement Award: 1972 to 1995

Criticism [link]

Due to the positive exposure and prestige of the Academy Awards, studios spend millions of dollars and hire publicists specifically to promote their films during what is typically called the "Oscar season". This has generated accusations of the Academy Awards being influenced more by marketing than quality. William Friedkin, an Academy Award-winning film director and former producer of the ceremony, expressed this sentiment at a conference in New York in 2009, describing it as "the greatest promotion scheme that any industry ever devised for itself".

In addition, some winners critical of the Academy Awards have boycotted the ceremonies and refused to accept their Oscars. The first to do so was Dudley Nichols (Best Writing in 1935 for ''The Informer''). Nichols boycotted the 8th Academy Awards ceremony because of conflicts between the Academy and the Writers' Guild. George C. Scott became the second person to refuse his award (Best Actor in 1970 for ''Patton'') at the 43rd Academy Awards ceremony. Scott described it as a 'meat parade', saying 'I don't want any part of it." The third winner, Marlon Brando, refused his award (Best Actor in 1972 for ''The Godfather''), citing the film industry's discrimination and mistreatment of Native Americans. At the 45th Academy Awards ceremony, Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to read a 15-page speech detailing his criticisms.

Tim Dirks, editor of AMC's filmsite.org, has written of the Academy Awards,

}}

Acting prizes in certain years have been criticized for not recognizing superior performances so much as being awarded for sentimental reasons, personal popularity, atonement for past mistakes, or presented as a "career honor" to recognize a distinguished nominee's entire body of work.

Associated events [link]

The following events are closely associated with the annual Academy Awards ceremony:

Nominees luncheon

Governors Awards

The 25th Independent Spirit Awards (in 2010), usually held in Santa Monica the Saturday before the Oscars, marked the first time it was moved to a Friday and a change of venue to L.A. Live.

The 8th annual "Night Before", traditionally held at the Beverly Hills Hotel (eight years running in 2010) and generally known as ''THE'' party of the season, benefits the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which operates a retirement home for SAG actors in the San Fernando Valley.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party airs the awards live at the nearby Pacific Design Center.

The Governors' Ball is the Academy's official after-party, including dinner (until 2011), and is held adjacent to the awards-presentation venue. In 2012, the three course meal was replaced by appetizers.

The Vanity Fair after-party, historically held at the former Morton's restaurant, since 2009 has been held at the Sunset Tower.

See also [link]

Academy Awards pre-show

Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party

Golden Raspberry Award

Oscar season

Cannes Film Festival

Camerimage

Berlin International Film Festival

Lists:

List of Academy Award records

List of Academy Award winning families

List of Academy Award-winning films

List of Academy Awards ceremonies

List of Academy Award trophies on public display

List of actors who have appeared in multiple Best Picture Academy Award winners

List of Big Five Academy Award winners and nominees

List of fictitious Academy Award winners and nominees

List of foreign language films nominated for Academy Awards

List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees

List of people who have won multiple Academy Awards in a single year

List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees

List of presenters of Best Picture Academy Award

List of superlative Academy Award winners and nominees

Nationality:

List of Australian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of British and Commonwealth Academy Award winners and nominees

List of English Academy Award nominees and winners

List of French Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Italian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Latin American Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Polish Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Scandinavian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Spanish Academy Award winners and nominees

Race:

List of Asian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Black Academy Award winners and nominees

Lists of Hispanic Academy Award winners and nominees by country

General:

BAFTA (British equivalent)

César Award (French equivalent)

List of years in film

Notes [link]

References [link]

Brokaw, Lauren (2010). "Wanna see an Academy Awards invite? We got it along with all the major annual events surrounding the Oscars". Los Angeles: The Daily Truffle.

Gail, K., and Piazza, J. (2002). ''The Academy Awards: The Complete History of Oscar.'' Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc. ISBN 1-57912-240-X.

Levy, Emanuel (2003). ''All About Oscar: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards.'' New York: Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-1452-4.

Wright, Jon (2007). ''The Lunacy of Oscar: The Problems with Hollywood's Biggest Night''. Thomas Publishing, Inc.

External links [link]

Oscar.com—official Academy Award ceremony site

"Oscar Greats" at ''Time'' magazine

Academy Awards USA at IMDB

An Interview with the President of the Academy Tom Sherak, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (best known for their Academy Awards, also referred to as “Oscars”) - interviewed on the role of film in society.

Category:Academy Awards Category:American film awards Category:Awards established in 1929

af:Oscar als:Oscar am:ኦ�?�ካ�?� ar:جائزة الأ�?س�?ار ast:Premios Óscar az:Oskar mükafatı bn:একাডেমি প�?রস্কার zh-min-nan:Oscar Chióng be:О�?кар be-x-old:О�?кар bg:Награди на филмовата академия на С�?Щ bar:Oscar bs:Oskar ca:Oscar cs:Oscar co:Oscar cy:Gwobrau'r Academi da:Oscaruddelingen de:Oscar et:Oscar el:Ό�?κα�? es:Premios Óscar eo:Oskar-premio eu:Oscar Sariak fa:جایزه اسکار fr:Oscar du cinéma fy:Academy Award ga:Gradaim an Acadaimh gl:Premios Oscar gan:奧斯卡金�?�獎 ko:아카데미�?? hy:Օսկար hi:अकेडेमी प�?रस्कार hr:Oscar ilo:Pammadayaw nga Oscar id:Academy Award ia:Premio Oscar is:Óskarsverðlaunin it:Premio Oscar he:פרס �?וסקר kn:ಅಕ್ಯಾಡೆಮಿ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ka:�?��?��?��??�?��?? kk:О�?кар марапаты sw:Tuzo za Akademi la:Praemia Academiae lv:Amerikas Kinoakadēmijas balva lt:Oskaras lmo:Prèmi Oscar hu:Oscar-díj mk:Филм�?ка награда на академи�?ата на С�?Д ml:അക്കാദമി അവാർഡ് mr:ऑस्कर प�?रस्कार ms:Anugerah Akademi mn:О�?карын �?агнал my:အော်စကာဆု nl:Academy Award ne:ओस्कार ja:アカ�?��?��?�賞 no:Oscar nn:Oscar-prisen oc:Oscar om:Academy Awards uz:Oscar pms:Premi Oscar nds:Oscar pl:Nagroda Akademii Filmowej pt:Óscar ro:Premiul Oscar ru:О�?кар (премия) sah:О�?кар sc:Premiu Oscar sq:Academy Award scn:Premiu Oscar simple:Academy Award sk:Academy Awards sl:Oskar (filmska nagrada) ckb:خەڵاتی ئۆسکار sr:О�?кар sh:Oscari fi:Oscar-palkinto sv:Oscar ta:அகாதமி விர�?த�? tt:О�?кар (премия) te:ఆస్కార్ ప�?రస్కారం th:รางวัลออส�?าร์ tg:Ҷоизаи О�?кар tr:Akademi Ödülleri uk:О�?кар (премія) vec:Premio Oscar vi:Giải Oscar wuu:奥斯卡奖 yi:�?סק�?ר yo:Ẹ̀bùn Akádẹ�?mì zh-yue:奧斯卡金�?�獎 bat-smg:Oskars zh:奥斯卡金�?�奖

Name	Billy Crystal
Birth date	March 14, 1948
Birth name	William Edward Crystal
Birth place	New York, New York, U.S.
Spouse	Janice Goldfinger (1970–present)
Nationality	American
Active	1975–present

}} William Edward "Billy" Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian, and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom ''Soap'' and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes ''When Harry Met Sally...'' and ''City Slickers''. He has hosted the Academy Awards nine times, including the 84th Academy Awards in 2012.

Early life[link]

Crystal was born in the Doctor's Hospital in Manhattan and raised on Long Island in Long Beach, the son of Helen (née Gabler), a housewife, and Jack Crystal, a record company executive and jazz producer who also owned and operated the Commodore Record store. His babysitter was occasionally Billie Holiday. His uncle was musician and songwriter Milt Gabler, and his brother, Richard "Rip" Crystal, is a television producer. Crystal grew up in a Jewish family that he has described as "large" and "loving".

After graduation from Long Beach High School, Crystal attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia on a baseball scholarship, having learned the game from his father, who pitched for St. John's University. Crystal never played a game at Marshall because the program was suspended during his freshman year, and because he was too busy being the Editor in Chief of The BG News from 1969–70. He did not return to Marshall as a sophomore, staying back in New York with his future wife. He instead attended Nassau Community College and later New York University, where he graduated in 1970 with a BFA from its Tisch School of the Arts.

Career[link]

Television[link]

Crystal returned to New York City and performed regularly at ''The Improv'' and ''Catch a Rising Star''. He studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. In 1976, Crystal appeared on an episode of ''All in the Family''. He was on the dais for The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Muhammad Ali on February 19, 1976, where he did impressions of both Ali and sportscaster Howard Cosell. He was scheduled to appear on the first episode of ''NBC Saturday Night'' (later renamed ''Saturday Night Live'') (October 11, 1975), but his sketch was cut. He did do a stand-up bit later in that first season as Bill Crystal, on the April 17, 1976, episode; the "Can you dig it? I knew that you could." portion of which was repeatedly quoted by characters in the 1977 feature film ''Saturday Night Fever''.

Crystal's earliest prominent role was as Jodie Dallas on ''Soap'', one of the first unambiguously homosexual characters in the cast of an American television series. He continued in the role during the series' entire 1977–1981 run.

In 1982, Billy Crystal hosted his own variety show, ''The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour'' on NBC. It lasted five episodes.

After hosting ''Saturday Night Live'' in 1984, he joined the regular cast. His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of Fernando Lamas, Fernando, a smarmy talk show host whose catchphrase, "You look... mahvelous!," became a media sensation. Crystal subsequently released an album of his stand-up material titled ''Mahvelous!'' in 1985, as well as the single "You Look Marvelous", which peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the same year. Also in the 1980s, Crystal starred in an episode of Shelley Duvall's ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' as the smartest of the three little pigs.

In 1996, Crystal was the guest star of the third episode of ''Muppets Tonight''.

Billy Crystal hosted three Grammy Awards Telecasts: the 29th Grammys; the 30th Grammys; and the 31st Grammys.

Acting in film and hosting the Oscars[link]

Crystal's first film role was in Joan Rivers's 1978 film ''Rabbit Test''. Crystal also made game show appearances such as ''The Hollywood Squares'', ''All Star Secrets'' and ''The $20,000 Pyramid''. He holds the record for getting his contestant partner to the top of the pyramid in winner's circle in the fastest time, 26 seconds.

Crystal appeared briefly in Rob Reiner's 1984 "rockumentary" ''This Is Spinal Tap'' as Morty The Mime, a waiter dressed as a mime at one of Spinal Tap's parties. He shared the scene with a then-unknown, non-speaking Dana Carvey. Crystal's line in the film was "Mime is money." He later starred in the action comedy ''Running Scared'' (1986). Reiner directed Crystal again in ''The Princess Bride'' (1987).

Reiner directed Crystal for a third time in the classic romantic comedy ''When Harry Met Sally...'' (1989), for which Crystal was nominated for a Golden Globe. Crystal then starred in the buddy comedy ''City Slickers'' (1991), which proved very successful both commercially and critically and for which Crystal was nominated for his second Golden Globe.

Following the success of these films, Crystal wrote, directed, and starred in ''Mr. Saturday Night'' (1992) and ''Forget Paris'' (1995). In the former, Crystal played a serious role in aging makeup, as an egotistical comedian who reflects back on his career. He directed the made-for-television movie ''61*'' (2001) based on Roger Maris's and Mickey Mantle's race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 1961. This earned Crystal an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

Crystal has continued working in film, including ''Analyze This'' (1999) and ''Analyze That'' (2002) with Robert De Niro, and in the English version of ''Howl's Moving Castle'' as the voice of Calcifer. He was originally asked to provide the voice of Buzz Lightyear in ''Toy Story'' (1995) but turned it down, a decision he later regretted due to the popularity of the series. Crystal later went on to provide the voice of Mike Wazowski in the Pixar film ''Monsters, Inc.'' (2001), which was nominated for the inaugural Best Animated Feature Oscar.

Crystal hosted the Academy Awards broadcast in 1990–1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2012; and he reportedly turned down hosting the 2006 ceremony to concentrate on his one-man show, ''700 Sundays''. He returned as emcee for the 2012 Oscar ceremony, after Eddie Murphy backed out of hosting. His nine times as the M.C. is second only to Bob Hope's 18 in most ceremonies hosted. At the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony in 2011, he appeared as a presenter for a digitally inserted Bob Hope and before doing so was given a standing ovation. Film critic Roger Ebert said when Crystal came onstage about two hours into the show, he got the first laughs of the broadcast. Crystal's hosting gigs have regularly included an introductory video segment in which he comedically inserts himself into scenes of that year's films in addition to a song following his opening monologue.

Broadway[link]

Crystal won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for ''700 Sundays'', a two-act, one-man play, which he conceived and wrote about his parents and his childhood growing up on Long Island. He toured the U.S. with the show in 2006 and Australia in 2007.

Following the initial success of the play, Crystal wrote the book ''700 Sundays'' for Warner Books, which was published on October 31, 2005. In conjunction with the book and the play that also paid tribute to his uncle, Milt Gabler, Crystal produced two CD compilations: ''Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story'', which featured his uncle's most influential recordings from Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" to "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets; and ''Billy Remembers Billie'' featuring Crystal's favorite Holiday recordings.

Philanthropy[link]

In 1986, Crystal started hosting ''Comic Relief'' on HBO with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. Founded by Bob Zmuda, Comic Relief raises money for homeless people in the United States.

On September 6, 2005, on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', Crystal and Jay Leno were the first celebrities to sign a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to be auctioned off for Gulf Coast relief.

Crystal has participated in the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Portraying himself in a video, Crystal introduces museum guests to the genealogy wing of the museum.

Crystal is a Los Angeles Clippers fan.

New York baseball[link]

On March 12, 2008, Crystal signed a minor league contract, for a single day, to play with the New York Yankees, and was invited to the team's major league spring training. He wore uniform number 60, in honor of his upcoming 60th birthday. On March 13, in a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Crystal led off as the designated hitter. He managed to make contact, fouling a fastball up the first base line, but was eventually struck out by Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm on 6 pitches and was later replaced in the batting order by Johnny Damon. He was released on March 14, his 60th birthday.

Crystal's boyhood idol was Yankee Hall of Fame legend Mickey Mantle who had signed a program for him when Crystal attended a game where Mantle had hit a homerun. Years later on ''The Dinah Shore Show'', in one of his first television appearances, Crystal met Mantle in person and had Mantle re-sign the same program. Crystal would be good friends with Mickey Mantle until Mantle's death in 1995.

Crystal also was well known for his impressions of Yankee Hall of Famer turned broadcaster Phil Rizzuto. Rizzuto, known for his quirks calling games, did not travel to Anaheim, California in 1996 to call the game for WPIX. Instead, Crystal joined the broadcasters in the booth and pretended to be Rizzuto for a few minutes during the August 31 game.

Although a life-long Yankee fan, he is a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, even earning a World Series ring in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat his beloved Yankees.

In the movie ''City Slickers'', Crystal wears a New York Mets baseball cap.

Personal life[link]

Billy Crystal and his wife Janice (née: Goldfinger) married in June 1970, and have two daughters, actress Jennifer and producer Lindsay, and are now grandparents. They reside in Pacific Palisades, California.

Awards[link]

In addition to his Golden Globe Award-nominations, Emmy Awards, and Tony Award, Crystal won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for ''700 Sundays'' and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2007.

Filmography[link]

! Year	! Title	! Role	! Notes
1977–1981		Jodie Dallas	TV series
1977	''SST: Death Flight''	David
		Lionel Carpenter
''Human Feelings	Angel	Made for TV
1980	''Animalympics''	Lodge Turkell	Voice
1984	''This Is Spinal Tap''	Morty the Mime
1986		Danny Constanzo
		Miracle Max
''Throw Momma from the Train''	Larry Donner
1988	''Memories of Me''	Abbie	Writer/Producer
1989	''When Harry Met Sally...''	Harry Burns
1991	''City Slickers''	Mitch Robbins
	''Horton Hatches the Egg''	Narrator	Voice
''Mr. Saturday Night''	Buddy Young, Jr.	Writer/Director/ProducerNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1994	''City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold''	Mitch Robbins	Writer/Producer
1995	''Forget Paris''	Mickey Gordon	Writer/Director/Producer
	''Muppets Tonight''	Himself	Guest star on third episode
	''Deconstructing Harry''	Larry
	Jack Lawrence
''Friends''	The Gynecologist (with Robin Williams)	TV Series
1998	''My Giant''	Sam 'Sammy' Kamin	Writer/Producer
1999	''Analyze This''	Dr. Ben Sobel	Executive Producer
2000	''The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle''	Mattress salesman	Uncredited
	''61*''		Director
''America's Sweethearts''	Lee Phillips	Writer/Producer
''Monsters, Inc.''	Michael "Mike" Wazowski	Voice
	''Mike's New Car''	Mike Wazowski	Short Film SubjectVoice
''Analyze That''	Dr. Ben Sobel	Executive Producer
2004		Calcifer	Voice
2005	''Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone''	Karl Scott	Voice
2006		Mike Car	Voice
2009	''Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America''		Host
		Jerry	Uncredited
''Planet Sheen''	Soldier Joagth	Voice Episode: ''What's Up Chock?''
2011		Himself	Scenes cut
2012		Artie Decker	To be released November 12, 2012
2013	''Monsters University''	Mike Wazowski	Voice

''Saturday Night Live''[link]

Characters[link]

Al Minkman, a shady businessman

Fernando, host of ''Fernando's Hideaway'', a celebrity interview show; based on actor Fernando Lamas

Buddy Young, Jr. (an insult comic who appears on Weekend Update)

Lew Goldman

Ricky, a bowler

Tony Minetti, a butcher

Willie, a man who, along with his friend, Frankie (played by Christopher Guest), discuss their masochistic tendencies

Impersonations[link]

Fernando Lamas

Howard Cosell

Muhammad Ali

John F. Kennedy

Joe Franklin

Hervé Villechaize

Joe Garagiola

Adam Ant

Prince

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Phil Rizzuto

Bibliography[link]

A children's book. A children's book. Crystal's memoirs with his father.

References[link]

External links[link]

Billy Crystal appears on Michael Eisner's talkshow on CNBC

Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:American film actors Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Emmy Award winners Category:GLAAD Media Award winners Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish American writers Category:Jewish comedians Category:Mark Twain Prize recipients Category:Marshall Thundering Herd baseball players Category:New York University alumni Category:People from Long Beach, New York

ar:بيلي �?ريستال an:Billy Crystal bg:Били Кри�?тъл ca:Billy Crystal cy:Billy Crystal da:Billy Crystal de:Billy Crystal et:Billy Crystal el:Μπίλυ Κ�?ί�?ταλ es:Billy Crystal fa:بیلی کریستال fr:Billy Crystal ga:Billy Crystal gl:Billy Crystal ko:빌리 �?�리스털 hr:Billy Crystal id:Billy Crystal it:Billy Crystal he:בילי קריס�?ל la:Gulielmus Crystal lv:Billijs Kristels hu:Billy Crystal nl:Billy Crystal ja:�?��?��?��?�ク�?�スタ�?� no:Billy Crystal nn:Billy Crystal pl:Billy Crystal pt:Billy Crystal ru:Кри�?тал, Билли simple:Billy Crystal sk:Billy Crystal sh:Billy Crystal fi:Billy Crystal sv:Billy Crystal tl:Billy Crystal tr:Billy Crystal zh:比�?�·克里斯�?

: ''For other uses of the title The Grid, see Grid (disambiguation).''

name	The Grid
background	group_or_band
origin	England
genre	HouseTechnoAmbient house
years active	1988–19962003–present
label	East West, Virgin, Deconstruction, Some Bizzare
associated acts	Soft Cell, Chris Braide
current members	Richard NorrisDavid Ball
past members	Sacha Rebecca Souter (singer/vocals)
notable instruments	}}

The Grid are an English electronic dance group, consisting of Richard Norris and David Ball (formerly of Soft Cell), The lead single from this album, "Swamp Thing", featuring elaborate banjo lines played by Roger Dinsdale. "Swamp Thing" proved to be a commercial success in the UK, Europe and Australia, reaching #3 in the UK || align="center"| 14 || Deconstruction Records |- | 1995 || ''Music for Dancing'' || align="center"| 67 || Deconstruction Records |- | 2008 || ''Doppelgänger'' || align="center"| - || Some Bizzare Records |}

Singles[link]

"Floatation (song) "Swamp Thing (The Grid song)

Year !! Single !! UK Singles Chart
1989	"On the Grid" (promo only)	-
1989	Intergalactica" (promo only) >
1990	Floatation" |	60
1990	A Beat Called Love" >
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1993
1993	Swamp Thing" |	3
1994
1994
1995
2006
2007

References[link]

External links[link]

Grid Central - An Unofficial Page for The Grid

Death of Roger Dinsdale.

[ The Grid on allmusic.com]

The Grid MySpace page

Category:English dance music groups Category:English electronic music groups Category:English house music groups Category:British techno music groups Category:Remixers Category:Electronic music duos

de:The Grid pl:The Grid ru:The Grid sv:The Grid

name	Viola Davis
birth date	August 11, 1965
birth place	St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States
alma mater	Rhode Island College (1988)Juilliard School (1993)
occupation	Actress
years active	1996–present
spouse
children	1 daughter; 2 stepsons
home town	Central Falls, Rhode Island }}

Viola Davis (born August 11, 1965) is an American actress.

Beginning her career on the stage, Davis won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for her role in ''King Hedley II'' (2001). She won a second Drama Desk Award for ''Intimate Apparel'' (2004). She won a second Tony and a third Drama Desk Award for her role in ''Fences'' (2010).

Some of her notable films include ''Traffic'' (2000), ''Antwone Fisher'' (2002), ''Solaris'' (2002) and ''The Help'' (2011). Her eleven-minute-long performance in the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's ''Doubt'' (2008) earned several honors, including an Academy Award nomination. Her role in the film ''The Help'' has garnered two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA Award nomination, another Academy Award nomination, and a Golden Globe nomination. In addition to her success, she was listed as ''Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World.''

Early life[link]

Davis was born on her grandmother's farm, at the former Singleton Plantation, in St. Matthews, South Carolina. She is the second youngest of six children. Her mother, Mary Alice, was a maid, factory worker, and homemaker, and her father, Dan Davis, was a horse trainer. Her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island a few months after she was born. Davis has described herself as having "lived in abject poverty and dysfunction" during her childhood.

Davis partially credits her love of stage acting with her involvement in the arts at her alma mater, Central Falls High School. Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College, graduating in 1988; in 2002 she received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the college. She was involved in the federal TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services programs. While Davis was a teenager, her talent was recognized by Bernard Masterson when, as director of Young People's School for the Performing Arts in West Warwick, Rhode Island, he awarded Davis a scholarship into that program.

She also attended the Juilliard School for four years, as a member of the Drama Division's ''Group 22'' (1989–1993).

Career[link]

In 2001, she won the Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of Tonya in ''King Hedley II'', a "35-year-old mother fighting eloquently for the right to abort a pregnancy." She has also won another Drama Desk Award for her work in a 2004 off-Broadway production of ''Intimate Apparel'' by Lynn Nottage.

Davis appeared in numerous films, including three films directed by Steven Soderbergh - ''Out of Sight'', ''Solaris'' and ''Traffic'', as well as ''Syriana'', which Soderbergh produced. Viola was also the uncredited voice of the parole board interrogator who questions Danny Ocean (George Clooney) in the first scene in ''Ocean's Eleven''. She also gave brief performances in the films ''Kate & Leopold'' and ''Antwone Fisher''. Her television work includes a recurring role in ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''; starring roles in two short-lived series, ''Traveler'' and ''Century City''; and a special guest appearance in "Badge", a ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' episode.

In 2008, Davis played Mrs. Miller in the film adaption to the Broadway play, ''Doubt'' with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. She was nominated for several awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.

On June 30, 2009, Davis was inducted into The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On June 13, 2010, Davis won her second Tony Award for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson's ''Fences''. She is the second African-American woman to win the award, after Phylicia Rash�?d.

Davis played the role of Dr. Minerva in ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', a coming-of-age film written and directed by Anna Boden with Ryan Fleck, adapted from the 2006 novel by Ned Vizzini.

In August 2011, Davis played the role of Aibileen Clark in the screen adaptation of the novel ''The Help'', directed by Tate Taylor. For her performance, Davis garnered numerous award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and an Academy Award

In 2012, Time Magazine listed Davis as one of the most influential people in the world.

Personal life[link]

Davis has been married to actor Julius Tennon since June 2003. They have a daughter, Genesis, whom they adopted as a newborn in October 2011. Davis is stepmother to Tennon's two sons from previous relationships.

Filmography[link]

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	''''	Nurse
1998	''Out of Sight''	Moselle
2000		Social Worker
2001	''''	Robin
2001	''Kate & Leopold''	Policewoman
2002	''Far from Heaven''	Sybil
2002		Eva May	Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2002		Gordon
2005		Grandma
2005	''Syriana''	CIA Chairwoman	uncredited
2006	''''	Tonya Neely
2006		Mother in hospital
2007		Detective Parker
2008		Jean
2008		Mrs. Miller
2009		Ellen
2009		Dr. Judith Franklin
2009	''Law Abiding Citizen''	Mayor April Henry
2010	''Knight & Day''	Director George
2010	''Eat Pray Love''	Delia
2010		Dr. Minerva
2010		Gail Friedman
2011		Aibileen Clark	African American Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressAlliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best ActressBlack Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActressBlack Reel Award for Best ActressBlack Reel Award for Best EnsembleBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressBroadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting EnsembleIowa Film Critics Award for Best ActressIndiana Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressHollywood Film Festival Award for Best EnsembleNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion PictureNational Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an EnsembleNorth Texas Film Critics Award for Best ActressSatellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion PictureSatellite Award for Best Cast – Motion PictureSanta Barbara International Film Festival Award for Outstanding PerformanceScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleSoutheastern Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleWomen Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActressNominated — Academy Award for Best ActressNominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaNominated — Houston Film Critics Award for Best ActressNominated — New York Film Critics Online for Best Actress (runner-up)Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society for Best ActressNominated — San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressNominated — St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
2011		Abby Black
2012		Amma	Based on the novel ''Beautiful Creatures'' by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
2013		Major Anderson

Television[link]

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	''NYPD Blue''	Woman	Episode: "Moby Greg"
1996	''New York Undercover''	Mrs. Stapleton	Episode: "Smack is Back"
1998	''''	Platoon Sgt. Fanning
1998	''Grace & Glorie''	Rosemary Allbright
2000	''Judging Amy''	Celeste	Episode: "Blast from the Past"
2000		Nurse Lynnette Peeler	19 episodes
2001	''Amy & Isabelle''	Dottie
2001		Dr. Eleanor Weiss	Episode: "You Can Count On Me"
2001	''''		Episode: "The Men from the Boys"
2001	''Third Watch''	Margo Rodriguez	Episode: "Act Brave"
2002	''Father Lefty''
2002	''Law & Order: Criminal Intent''	Terry Randolph	Episode: "Badge"
2002	''''	Dr. Georgia Davis	Episode: "Remembrance"
2002	''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''	Attorney Campbell	Episode: "The Execution of Catherine Willows"
2003		Stevie Morgan	Episode: "Third Strike"
2003	''''	Aisha Crenshaw	Episode: "We the People"
2004		Hannah Crane	9 episodes
2005		Molly Crane
2005		Victoria Rossi	Episode: "Shock"
2006		Molly Crane
2006		Molly Crane
2006	''Without a Trace''	Audrey Williams	Episode: "White Balance"
2006		Diane Barrino
2007	''Fort Pit''
2007	''Jesse Stone: Sea Change''	Molly Crane
2007		Agent Jan Marlow	8 episodes
2008		Ellen Snyder	Episode: "Double Negative"
2008	''''	Dr. Charlene Barton
2003–08	''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''	Donna Emmett	7 episodes from 2003 until 2008
2009	''United States of Tara''	Lynda P Frazier

Theatre credits[link]

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	''Seven Guitars''	Vera	BroadwayMar 28, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996Theatre World AwardNominated — Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayNominated — Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
1997	''God's Heart''	Eleanor	Off Broadway
1998		2nd Fisherman/Lychorida/Bawd	Off Broadway
	''Everybody's Ruby''	Ruby McCollum	Off Broadway Nominated — Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
''The Vagina Monologues''	Performer (Replacement)	Off Broadway
2001	''King Hedley II''	Tonya	Broadway May 1, 2001 - Jul 1, 2001Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
2004	''Intimate Apparel''	Esther	Off Broadway Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
2010		Rose	Broadway Revival Apr 26, 2010 - Jul 11, 2010Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayTony Award for Best Actress in a Play

References[link]

External links[link]

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from South Carolina Category:African American film actors Category:African American stage actors Category:African American television actors Category:American actors Category:American stage actors Category:Drama Desk Award winners Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:Rhode Island College alumni Category:Tony Award winners Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners

cy:Viola Davis da:Viola Davis de:Viola Davis el:Βαϊόλα Ντέιβις es:Viola Davis fr:Viola Davis gl:Viola Davis id:Viola Davis is:Viola Davis it:Viola Davis he:ויולה דייוויס nl:Viola Davis ja:�?�ィオ�?��?��?�イ�?�ィス pl:Viola Davis pt:Viola Davis ru:Дэви�?, Виола simple:Viola Davis sr:Ва�?ола Де�?ви�? fi:Viola Davis sv:Viola Davis tl:Viola Davis th:วิโอลา เดวิส zh:维奥拉·�?�维斯