Oscar Winners: Plummer Wins First Oscar at 82 for 'The Beginners'
Canadian icon Christopher Plummer, became the oldest-ever Oscar winner Sunday night when he won Best Supporting Actor at the age of 82. Plummer who received a standing ovation from the crowd, won the award for his portrayal of a man who comes out of the closet after the death of his wife in the film "Beginners."
"You're only two years older than me darling. Where have you been all my life?" he said to the 84-year-old Oscar.
The morning after winning his first ever Oscar, Plummer received the ultimate praise from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
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"On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to congratulate Christopher Plummer… I applaud Christopher Plummer and all of Canada's nominees for their exceptional accomplishments and impressive work in the film industry and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors," Harper said in a statement released Monday.
"Receiving an Oscar is the film industry's highest accolade. Canadians have always had a strong presence in the international film industry, and the number of Canadian nominees this year is a true testament to the quality of the talent coming from our country," Harper said.
Plummer who was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998, accepted the award proudly wearing his Order of Canada pin.
Several politicians tweeted their congratulations to Plummer during the award celebration, including interim Liberal leader Bob Rae. "Congratulations to Christopher Plummer! Wonderful tribute to a great Canadian actor, who was typically gracious and eloquent," he wrote on Twitter.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney also tweeted: "Too long in coming to win this recognition for an amazing artist," he said.
The actor told reporters on Sunday that he was feeling revived as an actor. "I hope I can do it for another ten years at least, I'm going to drop dead wherever I am -- on stage or on set. We don't retire in our profession, thank God," he said.
Plummer received his first ever Oscar nomination two years ago playing Russian writer Leo Tolstoy in "The Last Station."
