Did Joan Crawford Give Anne Bancroft Her Oscar? The Truth Behind The Rumor

Joan Crawford presented the Oscar to Anne Bancroft in New York. This happened shortly after Crawford returned from fulfilling her work commitments for Pepsi-Cola. She had been in New York for just three days. The whole event occurred only 28 days after the Academy Awards ceremony itself.

Here’s a bit more about the context of this moment:

Anne Bancroft won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film “The Miracle Worker”. The ceremony was held on April 10, 1963, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California. At the time, Crawford was a spokesperson for Pepsi-Cola and had pre-existing commitments that took her to New York just a few days after the ceremony.

It was unusual for an Oscar to be presented so late. Typically, the award is presented to the winner at the ceremony itself. However, in Bancroft’s case, Crawford was selected to present her award in a special ceremony due to her personal connection to the film and her history in the industry. The ceremony took place in New York on April 13, 1963, at the Hotel Pierre.

It’s important to note that there’s been some confusion about the exact reason for the delayed presentation. Some sources suggest that Bancroft was unable to attend the original ceremony due to a prior commitment. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. It’s more likely that the delayed presentation was simply a logistical issue that arose due to Crawford’s prior commitments.

This moment in time highlights the enduring legacy of both Joan Crawford and Anne Bancroft. It underscores Crawford’s influence as a Hollywood icon and her commitment to honoring exceptional performances in the film industry. It also shows how even in the midst of personal and professional obligations, these two actresses found time to celebrate each other’s achievements.