The iconic Oscar trophy has a long and storied history of disappearing, often for reasons ranging from theft and ransom to simple misplacement or even pranks. Over the years, several famous actors have admitted to losing their Academy Awards, adding to the mystery surrounding these coveted statues.
One recent case involved a trophy that was recovered this week after its winner was forced to check it in at a New York airport. Security officials informed Mr Nobody Against Putin documentarian Pavel Talankin that the trophy could be used as a weapon and therefore couldn’t be carried on his luggage. Lufthansa, the airline, eventually found the statue and is in direct contact with Talankin to arrange its return. This incident highlights how these trophies can end up in unexpected places, sometimes never to be seen again.
Here are some other notable cases of missing Oscars and the unusual circumstances that led to their recovery:
Oscars lost in the Los Angeles wildfires
Four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood lost three of her statuettes when her Pacific Palisades home was evacuated during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles last year. Her Oscar for Chicago was safely displayed at the film academy’s museum, but the bronze-filled trophies she earned for Memoirs of a Geisha and Alice in Wonderland completely melted. The Oscar for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was barely recognisable after its golden overcoat was charred away in the blaze that destroyed her home.
Following the fires, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated it would repair or replace statuettes belonging to living winners in cases of catastrophic loss or severe damage.
Strange tales of the vanished Oscars
In 2018, Frances McDormand’s Oscar was stolen from the Governors Ball after the Academy Awards. A man was arrested on suspicion of stealing the statue engraved with her name, but the case was eventually dropped in 2019.
Two of the Weinstein Company’s Oscars went missing after a 2018 Vanity Fair article revealed that two statuettes won for The King’s Speech and The Artist had disappeared from the company’s New York offices. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Other notable incidents
Jared Leto couldn’t find his Oscar for six years before it resurfaced in 2024. The Dallas Buyers Club star said it disappeared during a move and was finally recovered after being separated for at least six years.
Matt Damon’s Oscar vanished during a flood in his New York flat in 2007. He mentioned that the trophy could have been packed away into storage or taken by someone else.
Whoopi Goldberg lost her Oscar in 2002 when she sent it for cleaning. The package arrived empty, and the trophy was later found by an airport security guard. She vowed never to send it away again.
Olympia Dukakis’ Oscar was stolen and ransomed, but she opted to purchase a replacement from the academy instead of paying the ransom.
Unusual discoveries
In 2000, a large shipment of 52 statuettes was discovered in a rubbish bin behind a laundromat in Los Angeles. A repairman found them in 10 unmarked packing crates. Two men were arrested for stealing 55 Oscars from a loading dock, but three remained missing.
Another case involved an Oscar that was recovered after its winner was blocked from taking it on a flight.
A history of the Academy Awards statuette
The Oscar trophy, officially known as the Academy Award, has a rich history dating back to its creation in 1929. Designed by George Stanley, the statuette features a figure of a knight holding a sword, standing on a reel of film. It is made of bronze and plated with gold.
Additional stories
Other unusual cases include an Oscar that was found in a California rubbish bin, and a situation where an Academy Award winner was prevented from carrying the trophy on a flight.
These stories highlight the unpredictable journey of the Oscar trophy, which has become more than just a symbol of achievement — it’s also a piece of Hollywood history that sometimes disappears, only to reappear in the most unexpected ways.
