The 15 Most Shocking And Prolific Academy Awards Past Hosts, Including The 2025 Surprise

The role of the Academy Awards host is arguably the most high-pressure and thankless job in Hollywood, a tightrope walk between reverence for cinema and the need for viral, laugh-out-loud comedy. The history of the Oscars stage is a fascinating chronicle of comedy legends, surprising celebrity choices, and—in recent years—a preference for no host at all, reflecting the volatile nature of live television and audience expectations.

As of the latest 2025 ceremony, the tradition of a single, powerful emcee has been firmly re-established, following a period where the Academy experimented with hostless shows and controversial trios. Understanding the past hosts is key to appreciating the pressure on today's stars, as their performances often define the ceremony's legacy, for better or worse.

The Most Prolific and Surprising Oscar Emcees

The history of the Academy Awards host is dominated by a few legendary figures whose repeated appearances cemented their status as the face of Hollywood’s biggest night. These hosts not only set a high bar for comedic timing and musical numbers but also provided a sense of continuity for decades of broadcasts.

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The following list details the most frequent hosts, whose names are synonymous with the Oscars stage:

• Bob Hope (19 Times): The undisputed champion of Oscar hosting, Hope holds the record for the most appearances, spanning from 1940 to 1978. His opening monologues, which often poked fun at Hollywood's elite, were a staple of the ceremony.
• Billy Crystal (9 Times): Known for his elaborate musical opening numbers that brilliantly parodied the nominated films, Crystal is often cited as the gold standard for modern Oscar hosting. His tenure ran from 1990 to 2012.
• Johnny Carson (5 Times): The king of late-night television brought his smooth, witty, and unflappable style to the Oscars stage throughout the late 70s and early 80s.
• Whoopi Goldberg (4 Times): Goldberg was a trailblazer, becoming the first solo female host in 1994 and the first African-American host. Her blend of sharp wit and genuine warmth made her a four-time favorite.
• Jimmy Kimmel (4 Times): The current torchbearer, Kimmel has hosted four times, including the 95th and 96th ceremonies (2023 and 2024), bringing a contemporary, late-night sensibility to the show.

Beyond the regulars, the Academy has a history of surprising, one-off choices that often become legendary footnotes. In 1958, the ceremony was notably "hosted" by a number of presenters, including the animated character Donald Duck, a truly bizarre moment of Hollywood self-parody.

Other surprising early hosts include Jerry Lewis, who hosted multiple times in the 1950s, and the very first hosts, William C. deMille and Douglas Fairbanks, who presided over the inaugural banquet in 1929.

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A Complete List of Recent Academy Awards Hosts (2010–2025)

The last decade and a half have seen the most dramatic shifts in the host role, moving from established comedians to unexpected pairings, and finally to a controversial period of no host at all. The return to a single, high-profile host like Conan O'Brien for the 97th ceremony in 2025 signals a renewed commitment to the traditional format.

This list details the hosts of the Academy Awards from 2010 to the present day:

• 2025: Conan O'Brien - The late-night veteran hosted the 97th ceremony, marking his first time as the sole emcee.
• 2024: Jimmy Kimmel - Hosted the 96th ceremony.
• 2023: Jimmy Kimmel - Hosted the 95th ceremony.
• 2022: Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes - A controversial trio format, which was the first time three women hosted the show together.
• 2021: No Host - The third consecutive year without a traditional emcee.
• 2020: No Host - The second hostless ceremony.
• 2019: No Host - After a brief controversy involving Kevin Hart stepping down, the ceremony proceeded without a host.
• 2018: Jimmy Kimmel - Hosted the 90th ceremony.
• 2017: Jimmy Kimmel - Hosted the 89th ceremony, the year of the infamous "Best Picture envelope mistake."
• 2016: Chris Rock - Hosted the 88th ceremony, notably addressing the #OscarsSoWhite controversy head-on.
• 2015: Neil Patrick Harris - Hosted the 87th ceremony.
• 2014: Ellen DeGeneres - Hosted the 86th ceremony, famous for the viral celebrity selfie.
• 2013: Seth MacFarlane - Hosted the 85th ceremony.
• 2012: Billy Crystal - Hosted the 84th ceremony.
• 2011: James Franco and Anne Hathaway - A widely panned pairing that attempted to appeal to a younger demographic.
• 2010: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin - A duo of comedy veterans.

The Most Controversial and Memorable Hosting Moments

The host is the lightning rod for the entire show, and their performance often generates the most lasting memories—both good and bad. The pressure of a global audience has led to some of the most shocking and unforgettable moments in live television history.

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The Streaker and the Unflappable David Niven (1974)

Perhaps the most famous interruption in Oscar history occurred in 1974. As host David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor, a man ran naked across the stage. Niven, a master of composure, famously quipped, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was bound to happen. But isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?" His quick-witted response saved the moment and became a gold standard for live hosting.

The Viral Selfie and Ellen DeGeneres (2014)

In a moment that perfectly captured the social media era, Ellen DeGeneres, hosting for the second time, gathered a group of A-list celebrities—including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Bradley Cooper—for a now-iconic selfie. The photo instantly broke Twitter records, demonstrating the host's power to create a viral, culture-defining moment and successfully engage a younger audience.

The Controversial Openings and Panned Performances

Not all hosting choices have been met with praise. The 1989 ceremony is infamous for its ill-conceived, 11-minute opening number featuring Rob Lowe and an actress dressed as Snow White. The segment was so poorly received that Disney later sued the Academy.

In 2011, the pairing of young stars James Franco and Anne Hathaway was widely criticized for lacking chemistry and energy, leading to a hostless era shortly thereafter. The mixed reception to Chris Rock's 2005 performance also highlighted the challenge of balancing edgy comedy with the formality of the event, though his 2016 return was lauded for his fearless commentary on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

The 2022 decision to use a trio of hosts—Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes—was an attempt to revitalize the format, though the ceremony was ultimately overshadowed by a non-host-related scandal. The immediate return to a single host in 2023, and the continuation of that tradition with Conan O'Brien in 2025, suggests the Academy prefers the focused control and singular vision of a veteran comedian to navigate the complexities of a modern broadcast.