Cover Actor Billy Crystal, who returned as a presenter at the 2025 Oscars, was the host for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Actor Billy Crystal, who returned as a presenter at the 2025 Oscars, was the host for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Conan O’Brien joins a long list of entertainers who’ve hosted the Oscars with varying degrees of success
The red carpet has been rolled away, the statues have been claimed and Hollywood’s biggest night has come to a dazzling close. The 97th Academy Awards delivered all the glitz and glamour expected from cinema’s grandest celebration.
This year, all eyes were on first-time host Conan O’Brien, as the late-night legend joined an esteemed lineup of past emcees, from seasoned comedians to Hollywood icons, leaving his own distinct mark on Oscar history. As the after-parties wind down and the industry reflects on another unforgettable ceremony, we take a look at some of the legendary hosts who have graced the Academy Awards stage over the years. Here are some of the best and most memorable ones.
READ MORE: Oscars 2024: 10 best moments at the 96th Academy Awards
Billy Crystal, 1990-1993, 1997-1998, 2000, 2004, 2012
For much of the 1990s and the early 2000s, Billy Crystal set the gold standard for hosting the Oscars. A true master of ceremonies, he hosted a total of nine times. His opening monologues included song medley parodies that became legendary. And his “What are the stars thinking?” bit was always pitch-perfect. One of the key reasons for his success as a host was the enthusiasm he brought to the job. He seemed genuinely delighted to be there, easily engaging with the celebrities in the audience and always looking like he was having a blast.
See also: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal hint at reunion for the 35th anniversary of ‘When Harry Met Sally’
Hugh Jackman, 2009
He may have seemed like an unconventional choice, but Hugh Jackman quickly proved he was the perfect one. Years before he starred in The Greatest Showman, Hugh Jackman was the greatest showman on Oscar night. For his opening monologue, there was singing, there was dancing and there was a cameo from Anne Hathaway. And that was just the first musical number that night. The second act brought an all-star ensemble, with Jackman and Beyoncé leading a performance alongside Amanda Seyfried and Zanessa. What else could you expect from a true Broadway star?
See also: Hugh Jackman On The Greatest Showman, Montblanc And Being A Dad
Anne Hathaway and James Franco, 2011
Some Oscars hosts are remembered for all the right reasons, while others stood out for…different reasons. Two years after joining Jackman in his opening performance at the Oscars, Anne Hathaway took over hosting duties with James Franco. The two were brought together in an attempt to attract a younger demographic, but Hathaway and Franco, who weren’t close friends and had never worked together before, struggled to find rapport. Kudos to Hathaway for trying to make the best of it, even when Franco seemed to have checked out halfway through the show.
Jimmy Kimmel, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024
Another Oscar favorite is late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the Academy Awards four times. His long career as a talk-show host has prepared him for the job: he can deliver a funny topical monologue effortlessly and has cultivated ties with most of the celebrities in the audience. The latter helps when part of the job is poking fun at celebrities. What it didn’t prepare him for was dealing with the aftermath of the Evelopegate of 2017, when the wrong Best Picture was announced. He made the most of it the following year though when he hosted the Oscars again and he incorporated the slip-up in his opening monologue, so all's well that ends well.
Ellen DeGeneres, 2007, 2014
Like Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres drew on her experience as a talk-show host. Her day job ensured she knew how to command an audience and gave her plenty of opportunities to mingle with celebrities. She also has a lot of experience doing stand-up comedy. So her hosting style was a mix of sharp wit and down-to-earth charm. DeGeneres is also behind some of the most memorable gags in Oscar history, including having pizza delivered for the Hollywood elite, taking a vacuum to the front row, and snapping that viral selfie with Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper and other A-listers. Despite the controversies that followed later in her career, her hosting performances remain a standout example of how a blend of humor and relatability can captivate an audience.
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