36th Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1963
Sidney Poitier became the first African American actor to win Best Actor at the 36th Academy Awards, held in April 1964.
Key Facts
- Host
- Jack Lemmon
- Best Picture
- Tom Jones
- Best Actor
- Sidney Poitier for Lilies of the Field
- Best Actress
- Patricia Neal for Hud
- Oldest Supporting Actress winner
- Margaret Rutherford, age 71
- New category introduced
- Best Sound Effects
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually recognizes outstanding cinematic achievement. The films of 1963, including Tom Jones, Hud, and Lilies of the Field, generated notable performances and productions that made the 36th ceremony particularly milestone-laden.
Held on April 13, 1964, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and hosted by Jack Lemmon, the ceremony awarded Best Picture to Tom Jones, Best Actor to Sidney Poitier, and Best Actress to Patricia Neal. It introduced the Best Sound Effects category and featured Margaret Rutherford winning Best Supporting Actress at age 71.
Sidney Poitier's win marked a historic first for African American actors in the Best Actor category. Tom Jones set a record for Supporting Actress nominations, and the newly created Best Sound Effects award expanded the Academy's recognition of technical filmmaking crafts.