28 Vintage Photos from the Oscars Through the Decades, from Halle Berry's Historic Win to Jennifer Lawrence's Cinderella Moment
28 Vintage Photos from the Oscars Through the Decades, from Halle Berry's Historic Win to Jennifer Lawrence's Cinderella Moment
Stephanie SengweSun, March 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
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28 Vintage Photos from the Oscars Through the Decades, from Halle Berry's Historic Win to Jennifer Lawrence's Cinderella Moment
The Academy Awards are one of the starriest nights of the year, with all the high fashion, A-list reunions and drama that can come with.
That also means they're a massive stage for some of the most memorable art and incredibly human moments (who could forget Jennifer Lawrence falling gracefully in her Dior gown at the 2013 Oscars — or the slap?).
For cultural impact, the awards show is hard to beat. From Hattie McDaniel's trailblazing win for Gone with the Wind in 1940 to Halle Berry's emotional acceptance speech, 62 years later, to Tatum O'Neal's record-setting win in 1974, monumental achievements have been witnessed at the Oscars. Archives from the award show also provide a lens to instant classic moments from legends such as Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and more.
Below, check out these vintage photos from the Academy Awards through the decades.
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Big BreakthroughHattie McDanieCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
Hattie McDaniel poses with the statuette she received for her work in 1939's Gone with the Wind. The award was for Best Supporting Role by an Actress, and she became the first-ever Black actor to win an Academy Award.
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Rough Housing
Marlon Brando and Bob HopeCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
It was a battle of the best as Marlon Brando and Bob Hope playfully fought for Oscar at the 1954 Academy Awards.
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Trailblazer
Sidney PoitierCredit: Archive Photos/Getty
Sidney Poitier gazed his Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar for his work in Lilies of the Field at the 1964 show. He made history as the first Black actor to wield the accolade.
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Winning Trio
Jack Albertson, Barbra Streisand, and Anthony HarveyCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Jack Albertson, Barbra Streisand and Anthony Harvey — who was accepting the award for Katharine Hepburn — posed with their statues backstage at the 1969 ceremony.
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Dripping in Diamonds
Elizabeth TaylorCredit: Screen Archives/Getty
Elizabeth Taylor looked motion picture-perfect as she presented at the 1970 show, wearing a romantic lilac dress accessorized with her knockout Taylor-Burton diamond (what else?).
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Young Star
Tatum O'NealCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
Ten-year-old Tatum O'Neal made history as the youngest winner at the 1974 event, taking home the gold for Best Supporting Actress for her work alongside her father in Paper Moon.
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Hurray!
Jack NicholsonCredit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Jack Nicholson celebrated his Best Actor Oscar win at the 48th Annual Academy Awards in the most Jack Nicholson way.
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Keeping It Cool
Robert De NiroCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
A dashing Robert De Niro charmed photographers as he posed with his Oscar for his work in 1980's Raging Bull.
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Care to Share
Jane FondaCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
Jane Fonda looked '80s elegant as she picked up the Best Performance by an Actor award for her dad, who couldn't make it to the 1982 Academy Awards.
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Holding Tight
Sally FieldCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
An emotional Sally Field accepted Best Actress for Places in the Heart in 1984 (and her memorable "You like me!" speech became a meme before they existed).
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I Do Believe
CherCredit: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty
The 1988 Academy Awards were all about Cher, as she showed up in a daringly sheer Bob Mackie number (he described it as “like a beautiful period dress—except there was no underwear") and walked away with the Best Actress win that night, for her work in Moonstruck.
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Taking a Breather
Meryl Streep and Don GummerCredit: Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Best Actress winner and first-time mother-to-be Meryl Streep was glowing as she took a refreshment break alongside then-husband Don Gummer backstage at the 55th Academy Awards.
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Old Hollywood Glamour
Kurt Russell and Goldie HawnCredit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
A young Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn were the picture of Hollywood perfection as they attended the 61st Academy Awards in 1989.
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Dapper Gentleman
Denzel WashingtonCredit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty
Denzel Washington won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award in 1990 and the "eternally attractive" award every year since.
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Star Power
Madonna and Michael JacksonCredit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection
Madonna and Michael Jackson combined their star power to make a supernova splash at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards in 1991.
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Three for Three
Ethan Coen, Frances McDormand, and Joel CoenCredit: KIM KULISH/AFP via Getty
Frances McDormand — posing between her husband Joel Coen and his brother Ethan (left)— flashed their trophies as they raked in the wins for Fargo at the 64th Academy Awards in '92.
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Packing a Punch
Anna PaquinCredit: TIM CLARY/AFP via Getty
Anna Paquin could barely believe her eyes as she became the second youngest actress to win an Oscar in 1994. The 11-year-old snagged the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her work in The Piano.
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Feeling the Love
Elton John and Tim RiceCredit: DAN GROSHONG/AFP via Getty
Elton John and collaborator Tim Rice were feeling all the love that night as they hoisted their Best Original Song Oscars for their work on The Lion King.
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Best Friends, Best Moments
Matt Damon and Ben AffleckCredit: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty
Best Original Screenplay winners and lifelong besties, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, were over the moon as they celebrated their win for Good Will Hunting at the 1998 show.
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Breaking Barriers
Halle BerryCredit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
An emotional Halle Berry gave her famously spirited acceptance speech at the 2002 show. She was — and still remains — the first Black woman to win the Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar.
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Golden Girl
Charlize TheronCredit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Charlize Theron was statuesque while holding her Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role statue at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004.
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Making a Statement
36 MafiaCredit: Vince Bucci/Getty
Juicy J, DJ Paul and Project Pat of 36 Mafia matched their Oscars to their bling as they became the first hip hop group to win the Best Original Song Oscar in 2006.
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Working Together
Michelle Williams and Heath LedgerCredit: L. Cohen/WireImage
The Brokeback Mountain costars and real-life loves Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger walked hand-in-hand as they headed into 78th Academy Awards in 2006, where the film had multiple nominations.
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Big Laughs
Mo'NiqueCredit: Jason Merritt/Getty
She may be known as one of the queens of comedy, but it was her powerful, dramatic performance in Precious that won Mo'Nique her Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2010.
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When in Versace
Angelina JolieCredit: Ethan Miller/Getty
Angelina Jolie created an epically viral moment as she struck this now-iconic pose while walking the Academy Awards red carpet in 2012.
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Cinderella, Is That You?
Jennifer LawrenceCredit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Jennifer Lawrence had a famous Disney princess-esque moment as she fell while headed to the stage to accept the Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013.
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Radiant Beauty
Viola DavisCredit: Frazer Harrison/Getty
Viola Davis was a vision in vibrant Armani Privé as she flaunted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2017.
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Everyone, Say Cheese!
Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie, Peter Nyong'o Jr. and Bradley CooperCredit: Ellen DeGeneres/Twitter via Getty
The who's-who of the 86th Annual Academy Awards came in for Ellen DeGeneres' star-studded selfie during the 2014 show.
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