10 Best Ways Actors Ever Received Awards

7. Joe Pesci Gives A Five-Word Oscar Acceptance Speech

BAFTA Jack Nicholson
AMPAS

Lofty expectations are always placed upon award-winning actors to give a memorable, classy, funny, or heartfelt acceptance speech which demonstrates how grateful they are for winning the golden statuette, but Joe Pesci did the most Joe Pesci thing imaginable when his turn came.

Pesci won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1991 for his phenomenal performance in Goodfellas, and when he took to the podium, audiences were surely expecting a whole lot more than he gave them.

Pesci reached the stage, picked up his Oscar statue, took a deep breath, and rather than launch into a lengthy, rehearsed speech, simply said, "It's my privilege, thank you," before walking off the stage to a round of applause.

It was fitting that Pesci, an actor who made every word count and a low-profile man away from movie sets by all accounts, dispensed with the expectedly gushing ten-minute speech and instead gave his modest, speedy thanks before exiting the stage with his Oscar in tow.

It remains one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Oscar history, and more could probably do well to follow his lead.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.