In 1993 , relative unknown Marisa Tomei won the Best stick out Actress Oscar for her function as Mona Lisa Vito in " My Cousin Vinny , " pulling off a major shocker by besting veterans Joan Plowright , Vanessa Redgrave , Miranda Richardson and Judy Davis . There ’s been a teasing rumor floating around ever since that Tomei was n’t the veridical achiever , that presenter Jack Palance say her name in error and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences cover it up to keep off humiliation . So was this one of the biggest upsets in Academy Awards story or the biggesthoax ?

It was pretty shocking that the 28 - yr - previous Tomei , then best known for her role on " The Cosby Show " spinoff " A Different World , " was even nominated for theOscar . honorary society members generally do n’t vote for comedic performance and her depiction of a Brooklyn hairdresser with a surprising endowment for car repair was over - the - top wacky . Tomei ’s fellow nominees – all older British stage veterans – were put up for more traditionally Oscar - suitable films : the period drama " Howards End " and " Enchanted April , " Woody Allen ’s " Husbands and Wives " and the French thriller " wrong . " Tomei by all odds stuck out like a sore thumb .

So when Palance record Tomei ’s name from the gasbag on March 29 , 1993 , people immediately started shout foul , claiming he had announce the incorrect name . Perhaps the 74 - class - old had been put off by the teleprompter , or maybe it was an ill - apprise prank – an extension of his ill-famed one - fortify press-up stunt at the former year ’s Oscar ceremonial occasion . In any case , it was apparently impossible that Tomei had actually garnered the most votes . The conspiracy charge was led by pic critic Rex Reed , who recite Geraldo Rivera in 1997 that Palance had probably been " drunk " or " stoned " when he proclaimed Tomei the achiever .

The teleprompter call sounds convincing at first . Tomei ’s name was last on the alphabetical tilt of candidate that Palance scan off the sieve , so perhaps he got mixed up and say her name again as the winner . But it sour out the winner ’s name is the only one in the envelope – it ’s not on the screen – so that possibility does n’t really harbour water supply .

And if Palance had somehow mistakenly blurt out Tomei ’s name after open up the envelope , he would have had theaccountantsto bargain with . Everyone always chuckles at the point in the ceremonial when the PricewaterhouseCoopers employees are trotted out for an introduction , but they ’re waiting off - stage for a reason . If a bestower makes a mistake , the illustration will come out and make an straightaway chastening . Sure , it ’d be reasonably unenviable for everyone involved , but there ’s just no way that an Oscar would go to the haywire someone .

Roger Ebert , anger by the allegations , got the Academy to issue an prescribed denial of the title . And Tomei has more than turn out herself as a dramatic actress since . Se ’s been nominated twice more for Actress in a Supporting Role ( for " In the sleeping room " in 2001 and " The Wrestler " in 2008 ) . But the " inadvertent Oscar " hearsay is still out there . It ’s one of those Hollywood stories that just wo n’t die .

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