Sean Penn Claims Third Oscar Victory While Missing Ceremony
Acclaimed actor Sean Penn has secured his third Oscar, yet he was notably absent from the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony to receive the honour. Penn was awarded the Best Supporting Actor prize for his portrayal of the racist military figure Colonel Lockjaw in the film One Battle After Another.
Penn's Triumph and Notable Absences
In a competitive field, Penn triumphed over fellow nominees including his co-star Benicio del Toro, Delroy Lindo from Sinners, Stellan Skarsgard of Sentimental Value, and Jacob Elordi from Frankenstein. Despite this victory, Penn did not attend the Los Angeles event, continuing a pattern of absence from major awards shows this season.
Penn has previously won Oscars for his performances in Mystic River and Milk. Last year's category winner, Kieran Culkin, announced Penn's win, quipping, "Sean Penn couldn't be here tonight, or didn't want to, so I will take this for him." Penn also missed the Baftas and Actor Awards, where he was victorious, though he attended the Golden Globes only to be defeated by Skarsgard.
Other Highlights from the 2026 Oscars
The ceremony opened with Amy Madigan winning the first Oscar of the night for her terrifying role as Aunt Gladys in the horror film Weapons. In her emotional acceptance speech, she paid tribute to her husband, Ed Harris, stating, "The most important is my beloved Ed who's been with me forever, and that's a long-ass time, and none of this would mean anything if he wasn't by my side."
In screenplay categories, Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay for Sinners, while Paul Thomas Anderson took Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another. A dramatic tie occurred in the live action short category, with both Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers declared winners—marking the first tie since 2013.
Host Conan O'Brien's Memorable Monologue and Sketches
Host Conan O'Brien, returning for his second year, opened the show with an extended sketch dressed as Aunt Gladys, complete with a red wig and heavy white makeup. He humorously interacted with scenes from Best Picture nominees, such as playing table tennis with Timothee Chalamet in Marty Supreme and running across the stage in Hamnet.
O'Brien's monologue touched on current events, joking, "Last year when I hosted, Los Angeles was on fire. This year, everything is going great." He also poked fun at Timothee Chalamet's recent comment about opera and ballet, warning of potential "attacks from both the opera and ballet communities."
Noting the absence of British lead acting nominees for the first time since 2012, O'Brien added a witty remark: "A British spokesperson said 'Yeah, at least we arrest our paedophiles'." He reflected on the chaotic times, emphasising how the Oscars showcase "global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities, optimism."
Additional Awards and Ceremony Details
The box office hit KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Film, while Frankenstein secured Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. After the tied winners left the stage, O'Brien humorously noted, "You just ruined 22 million Oscar pools," highlighting the unpredictability of the evening.
Overall, the 2026 Oscars blended moments of triumph, absence, and humour, celebrating cinematic achievements amidst a backdrop of global challenges and artistic resilience.
