This Day in Oscar History: December 18

Here’s what happened today in Oscar History.

Born

1888: Gladys Cooper (82 at death) [Pictured]

{3 Noms, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Supporting Actress

1891: Lewis Lewyn (77 at death)

{1 Nom, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Color Short Film

1899: Rex Wimpy (73 at death)

{1 Nom, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Special Effects

1900: Darrell Silvera (82 at death)

{7 Noms, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Art Direction, Art Direction (Black-and-White)

1904: George Stevens (70 at death) [Pictured]

  {9 Noms, 3 Wins}
     Oscar Winner: Directing, Irving G. Thalberg Award
     Oscar Nominee: Picture, Directing

1908: Celia Johnson (73 at death) [Pictured]

{1 Nom, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Lead Actress

1911: Jules Dassin (96 at death) [Pictured]

{2 Noms, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Directing, Original Screenplay

1926: Walter Lassally (85) [Pictured]

  {1 Nom, 1 Win}
     Oscar Winner: Cinematography (Black-and-White)
     Oscar Nominee: Cinematography (Black-and-White)

1937: Joel Hirschhorn (67 at death) [Pictured]

  {4 Noms, 2 Wins}
     Oscar Winner: Song
     Oscar Nominee: Song, Original Song or Adaptation Score

1946: Steven Spielberg (65) [Pictured]

  {12 Noms, 4 Wins}
     Oscar Winner: Picture, Directing, Irving G. Thalberg Award
     Oscar Nominee: Picture, Directing

1963: Brad Pitt (48) [Pictured]

{2 Noms, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Lead Actor, Supporting Actor

1968: Rachel Griffiths (43) [Pictured]

{1 Nom, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Supporting Actress

Died

1982: Keogh Gleason (76)

  {7 Noms, 4 Wins}
     Oscar Winner: Art Direction, Art Direction (Black-and-White), Art Direction (Color)
     Oscar Nominee: Art Direction, Art Direction (Black-and-White), Art Direction (Color)

1986: George Amy (83)

  {3 Noms, 1 Win}
     Oscar Winner: Editing
     Oscar Nominee: Editing

1990: Anne Revere (87)

  {3 Noms, 1 Win}
     Oscar Winner: Supporting Actress
     Oscar Nominee: Supporting Actress

1994: Lilia Skala (98)

{1 Nom, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Supporting Actress

2006: Joseph Barbera (95)

{2 Noms, 0 Wins}
Oscar Nominee: Animated Short Film

Released

1946: The Yearling

(Los Angeles Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1946}

1957: The Bridge on the River Kwai

(New York City Release) {Best Picture Winner, 1957}

1958: Separate Tables

(National Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1958}

1969: Anne of the Thousand Days

(National Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1969}

1974: The Godfather, Part II

(Los Angeles Release) {Best Picture Winner, 1974}

1975: Barry Lyndon

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1975}

1985: Out of Africa

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Winner, 1985}

1985: The Color Purple

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1985}

1987: The Last Emperor

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Winner, 1987}

1987: Moonstruck

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 1987}

2002: Chicago

(New York City Release) {Best Picture Winner, 2002}

2002: The Hours

(Premiere) {Best Picture Nominee, 2002}

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 2002}

2009: Avatar

(Wide Release) {Best Picture Nominee, 2009}