ACADEMY AWARDS 2024: Past winners with big ties to Alabama

The 96th Academy Awards are this Sunday – and after last year’s sweep by ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, which has huge ties to Birmingham, you might be wondering what other Alabamians have been nominated for an Academy Award. We’ll break down 4 past winners from the Yellowhammer state.

Academy Award-winning actors from Alabama

Louise Fletcher

• Known for: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Flowers in the Attic, Cruel Intentions
• Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
• Academy Award wins: 1974 ‘Best Actress’ for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Fun Fact: She’s the only actress ever to win an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award for the same role in the same award cycle

Octavia Spencer

• Known for: The Help, Hidden Figures, Ma
• Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
• Academy Award wins: 2012 ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role’ for her role as Minnie in The Help
• Other Academy Award nominations: 2017 ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role’ for her role as Dorothy Vaughn in Hidden Figures, 2018 ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role’ for her role as Zelda Fuller in The Shape of Water
• Fun Fact: She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022

Academy Award-winning filmmakers from Alabama

Director Daniel Scheinert (one half of ‘The Daniels’ directing duo)

• Known for: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Swiss Army Man
• Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
• Academy Award wins: (all of his wins are with Daniel Kwan, who co-wrote & directed the film) 2023 ‘Best Achievement in Directing’, ‘Best Original Screenplay’ and ‘Best Motion Picture of the Year’ for his work on Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Fun Fact: 3 of the people he directed in Everything Everywhere All at Once won their own Academy Awards for their roles: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis

Editor Paul Rogers

• Known for: Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Eric Andre Show,
• Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
• Academy Award wins: 2023 ‘Best Achievement in Film Editing’ for his work on Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Fun Fact: Rogers met Scheinert at a birthday party in Los Angeles

Check out these stories, too:

• Alabama Artist’s pottery to appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• See how Octavia Spencer is treating Auburn students to free meals during finals
• Paul Rogers, Academy Award winning editor of Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Homewood native, shares his path to success

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