20 Devastating Oscars Moments Hidden In Plain Sight
10. John Wayne's Haunting Final Oscar Appearance
The 1979 Oscars saw the legendary John Wayne present the Best Picture Oscar - which went to The Deer Hunter - all while in the midst of publicly battling stomach cancer.
A visibly weakened Wayne consequently received a massive standing ovation from the audience when he came on stage, and gave a heartfelt introductory speech in which he said, "Oscar and I have something in common. Oscar first came to the Hollywood scene in 1928. So did I. We're both a little weather-beaten, but we're still here and plan to be around for a whole lot longer."
It was certainly a lovely sentiment from Wayne which the audience enthusiastically applauded, though the sad reality is that Wayne was in the end stages of his cancer at this time and ultimately passed away from the disease barely two months after the Oscar ceremony, which was also his final notable public appearance.