Oscar host Whoopi Goldberg’s own Academy Award went missing on its way to be cleaned last week, only to turn up mysteriously in an airport rubbish bin.
Whoopi’s statuette, awarded for her supporting role in the 1990 film Ghost, was returned to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last Friday to be sent to the awards' Chicago makers for cleaning and replating. The figure went missing after being turned over to United Parcel Service (UPS) for shipment, a spokesman for the Academy said.
Whoopi’s publicist, Brad Cafarelli, revealed that a local TV station had tipped him off on Monday night about a rumour of the statue turning up at LA Airport. Then, when the package arrived in Chicago on Tuesday morning, it was discovered to be empty.
The statue was discovered on the same day in a rubbish bin at southern California's Ontario Airport where UPS maintains a shipping facility. It was immediately returned to the actress-comedian.
Academy Awards organisers said they were baffled by the disappearance. All Oscar trophies are numbered and Whoopi’s was engraved with her name, making it extremely difficult to sell without detection. “Oscar will never leave my house again," said the relieved star.
In 2000, 55 statues were stolen as they were being delivered from the manufacturers. All but three were later found in a skip and three men were arrested and convicted of the theft.
Next month 55-year-old Whoopi returns to host the 2002 Oscar ceremony after taking a two-year break from the role. Nominations for the awards will be announced on February 12.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
