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From Ellen's selfie to Poitier's best actor win: 12 unforgettable Oscar moments

From Ellen's star-studded selfie to Sandra Bullock's tearful acceptance speech and Sidney Poitier's barrier-breaking best actor win, here's a look at 12 unforgettable Oscar moments.

CBC Arts takes a look at some of our favourite moments from Hollywood's biggest night

CBC News Posted: Feb 23, 2016 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: February 23, 2016

Ellen DeGeneres had an assortment of pizzas delivered to the front seats of the Dolby Theatre in 2014. That's Brad Pitt and a bewildered delivery guy named Edgar handing out slices during the 86th instalment of the Academy Awards. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

The selfie that broke Twitter

Ellen DeGeneres, who hosted the2014 Oscars, postedthe first image ever to break the one million retweet mark onTwitter with this star-studded selfie.

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
—@TheEllenShow

'Did I really earn this, or did I just wear you all down?'

Sandra Bullock cemented her reputation as one of Hollywood's classiest winners with her tearful best actress acceptance speech in 2010.

Sandra Bullock won for her role in the football drama The Blind Side and thanked just about everybody, including George Clooney who she says once pushed her into a pool. (Gary Hershorn/Reuters)

Heath Ledger wins best supporting actor award

Australian Heath Ledger, who died from an accidental drug overdose in 2008, won a posthumous best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight.

Heath Ledger's parents and sister accepted the award, which was dedicated to his daughter, Matilda, during the Academy Awards ceremony in 2009. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty)

Scorsese'sone, and only,directorial Oscar came in 2007

Hollywood heavyweight director MartinScorsesewon his first Oscar for 2007's The Departed, which also won best picture that year.

First-time Oscar-winner Martin Scorsese is bookended from left by fellow directors Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas at the 79th Academy Awards. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

AdrienBrody'sunsolicited smooch a shocker

Adrien Brodyfamously planted asurprisekiss on presenterHalleBerry after his best actor win for his role inThe Pianistin 2003.

In an interview with People magazine, Halle Berry said she 'didn't kiss back at all.' (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

Woody Allen makes an appearance post 9/11

The actor and director broke his decades-long string of absences from the Academy Awards in 2002 when he turned up to pay tribute to his hometown of New York City.

After a witty opening monologue for which Woody Allen got a standing ovation, he thanked the audience and the academy saying: 'that makes up for the strip search,' in reference to the tight security surrounding the ceremony that year. (Lee Celano/AFP/Getty)

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington win best actressand actor Oscars

The 2002 Academy Awards wasthe first and only time two African-American performers won both top acting categories.

Denzel Washington won for his role as a crooked cop in Training Day while Halle Berry, who is the only black woman to win a best actress Oscar, won for her role in Monster's Ball. (Andy Clark/Reuters)

Roberto Benignisteals the show during hisLife Is Beautiful acceptance speech

In perhaps one of the most flamboyant acceptance celebrations ever, Italian directorand actor Roberto Benignishocked anddelighted audience members when hejumpedfrom chair to chair on his way to the stage in 1999.

Life is Beautiful director Roberto Benigni overreacted in the most charming way when he won the Oscar for best foreign language film during the 71st Academy Awards in 1999. (Eric Draper/AP)

Sally 'you like me' Field gave one of the most misquoted speeches in Oscar history

In Sally Field's 1985 acceptance speech, the Oscar winner actually said: "I can't deny the fact you like me"while receiving the best actress award for her role in Places in the Heart.

The oft-misquoted line 'you really like me' was never spoken by Sally Field. (AP)

Marlon Brando turned down 1973 best actor Oscar

Sacheen Littlefeather appeared on stage in place of Marlon Brando, who declined the best actor Oscar for his role in The Godfather.

Sacheen Littlefeather said Marlon Brando was protesting 'the treatment of the American Indian in motion pictures and on television' when he turned down an Oscar. (AP)

Sidney Poitier the first black man to win best actor award

Sidney Poitier's best actor win for his role in Lillies of the Field in 1964 made him the first African-American man to win the gold statuette in the category at the 36th Academy Awards. (The Associated Press)

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