Tony Winner Jackman to Host Academy Awards

By Andrew Gans
12 Dec 2008

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Hugh Jackman, who won a Tony Award for his performance in The Boy From Oz, will host the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

The February 22, 2009, awards ceremony — which will be produced by Laurence Mark and executive produced by Bill Condon — will feature set designs by David Rockwell. ABC will broadcast the ceremony live from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.

Producers Mark and Condon said in a joint statement, "Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star. He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies – and to have fun doing it."

Although Jackman has hosted the Tony Awards, this will mark his first time hosting the Oscar telecast. Recent Oscar hosts include Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.

Oscar nominations will be announced Jan. 22, 2009.

Jackman, who can currently be seen on screen in "Australia," earned a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz. He is also known for his film roles in the "X-Men" trilogy, "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "Kate and Leopold," "Van Helsing" and the recent "The Fountain" and "Happy Feet" (in voice). His stage credits also include Trevor Nunn's staging of Oklahoma! at Britian's National Theatre and award-winning work in productions of Sunset Boulevard and Beauty and the Beast in his homeland.