30 Prestigious Facts About The Oscars AKA The Academy Awards

Kevin Spacey was originally slated to play the president in Independence Day. Studio executives insisted the part be rewritten for Bill Pullman because they felt Spacey was incapable of starring in blockbusters. He won his first academy award 10 months later.

Heath Ledger was the first actor to ever win an academy award for the portrayal of a character in a superhero movie.

Woody Allen's Oscar-winning script, "Midnight in Paris," began as just a title he liked for a film. So, rather than coming up with a title for a written film, he wrote the film only after coming up with the title; it took several months for the film's idea to come to him and fit the title.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) is the last film edited on a non-digital editing system to win an Academy Award for editing.

Edith Head won 8 Oscars for best costume design and was the inspiration for Edna Mode in The Incredibles.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the first and only fantasy film ever to win an Academy Award for "Best Picture".

Tom and Jerry cartoons won 7 Oscars and were nominated for 6 more.

Kathryn Bigelow is the first and only female to win the Academy Award for Best Director, winning for the 2009 film "The Hurt Locker".

The song Can You Feel The Love Tonight was almost cut from The Lion King. Elton John had to campaign for it to be left in. It went on to win the Oscar for best original song.

Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is both a 9/11 denier and doubts the moon landing.