The Oscar win of Marisa Tomei - and the rumor that followed

At the 1992 Academy Awards, Marisa Tomei won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in "My Cousin Vinny". But this star-making moment was soon overshadowed by one of the most persistent urban myths on modern entertainment history - did Marisa Tomei win the Oscar by mistake?

In this video, I will take a look at Marisa Tomei's suprise win, how the rumor got started, how it affected her career - and how she finally overcame it.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
05:05 Why was Marisa Tomei's Oscar win an upset?
23:13 How did Marisa Tomei win the Oscar?
33:02 Where did the rumor come from?
38:50 Why was the rumor believable for some?
44:30 Marisa Tomei's reputation after her Oscar win
50:49 The post-Oscar career of Marisa Tomei
1:11:21 In the Bedroom
1:20:30 Overcoming the Oscar curse

Interiviews:

Music
Hanging Out - Bruno E.

#academyawards #bestsupportingactress #mycousinvinny #marisatomei #judydavis #vanessaredgrave #mirandarichardson #joanplowright

[pophector]

Fritz, thank you so much for this! I've been waiting for any person to make an in depth video about Marisa Tomei's win and I'm so happy you're the person who made this! Can't wait to watch this throughly later.

[dwleroy]

Hey there Fritz. Thank you for taking the time to created and post the video.
1. I remember when Marisa received her well-deserved Oscar, and it was a spectacular “surprise!” This is a time when I truly felt the Academy got right.
2. I had seen all the other fine performances, and, in my opinion, Marisa’s was the best. A comedic performance of a fantastic and loveable character that could easily been over the top.
3. I have viewed My Cousin Vinny recently and the film not only holds up well, and Marisa was also phenomenal. Her character is a wonderfully memorable one and I have seen the film 4 times. No offense and in my opinion but the other four films of the nominees I have always had zero interest for me to re-watch.
4. The Academy makes huge ludicrous mistakes the Academy makes regularly is the “career” performance over the far superior one. Or the corrective mistake: “oops, we should have given this to that actor 3 years ago.”
5. In my personal opinion I loved that she was nominated for “In The Bedroom” and “The Wrestler” for validation as an actress. She did not need that validation from me but well earned.
6. Marisa or the other 4 nominees were not the only great performances that were not nominated that year:
7. Alfre Woodard in Passion Fish; Angela Basset in Malcom X; Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns; Maggie Smith or Kathy Najimy in Sister Act. I personally think Alfre Woodard or Michelle Pfeiffer deserved a spot more than the other four. Marisa still should have received the Oscar in my opinion.
8. I live in Los Angeles and the rumors about her award and Jack Palance’s mistake started within days. It was awful and I could not even understand what Marisa was going thru. This was in the newspapers and the news itself for the world to see. Imagine your name and reputation being exposed to the world like that.
9. An actress must work 3 times harder and make less money than actors in Hollywood.
10. If a man is demanding, he is assertive and/or is creating a character. If a woman is demanding, she is mean, unprofessional, and difficult.
11. The fact that this was “news” in unbelievable. In April:
A. Four Comers Hantavirus outbreak killing 13 people in the US.
B. Great Flood of 1993 along the Mississippi River killing 38-50 people and $15 billion in damages.
C. The Waco siege leading to the deaths of 76 people.
D. The World Health Organization declares tuberculosis a global emergency.
E. According to the FBI in 1993 there were 24, 526 murders in the United States.
12. But the most important news of that time is that horrific “Oscar mistake”

[davemathews]

She deserved that Oscar. Just because you're British, it doesn't mean you're a better actor.

[bilaalbadurdeen]

When we become matured we can understand why she won, She was the Heart of that film, Outstanding Performance, she deserved ❤💯🔥☝️

[fitnessfreak]

Oh wow!!! This was completely from left field, but a good one!! I love this story about this win and more importantly, how I believe a comedic performance is as deserving of an Oscar as a dramatic performance.

[haihe]

I love "My Cousin Vinny" and her performance. She deserved it.

[kellie-ndyp]

I’m glad she won for My Cousin Vinny . I like to see comedic performances get more recognition for the challenges that are required.
I’m glad you brought up the other Oscar wins for comedy.
Not everyone has to have the same kind of career and she’s carved her own path and niche.

[rockyhrndz]

Please keep making content! I love them so much!

[wavesofwoodenlegs]

Great video, Fritz! Thank you for shining so much light on Marisa Tomei. I learned so much about her.

[leonardmirone]

I recently saw ‘My Cousin Vinnie’ for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Admittedly, my expectations were not too high. In any event, Marisa Tomei gave an excellent and, in my opinion, an Oscar worthy performance. Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne were also very good and enhanced the film significantly. Thanks again, Fritz, as always, for your fascinating and insightful clip.

[doloresbriseno]

The Academy should be embarrassed that they gave the Academy Award to Gwyneth Paltrow who hasn't gone on to do much with her career. Marisa has done alot more.

[andreiiliepopescu]

Well worth the wait. I always love your detailed takes on Oscar wins, Fritz. And, Marisa Tomei is one of my favorite wins because it's such a great and memorable role with a perfectly-cast Marisa, and the win was such a surprise when the Oscars had already become much less surprising.
Question: From what show do the extracts of the funny gay guys doing the monologue come from? Thank you 🙂

[pophector]

Now that I've seen the video in full, this was such a fascinating and insightful video that really proves what an amazing actress she is showing such range with her talents. She always makes a picture better with her appearance and she was great in both In The Bedroom & The Wrestler. She got the justice and flowers now she's always deserved from the public ❤

[oscarman]

Leave it to you, Fritz, to provide such an incredibly in-depth analysis of one of (if not THE) most shocking wins in Oscar history!

[yildizulu]

I like your videos a lot. Although I know it takes a lot of time cause you work on them a lot, if you could also do movie reviews I would very happily listen to them

[terpmaniac]

Tomei was WONDERFUL in My Cousin Vinny. WONDERFUL.

[mcbear]

Fritz, I absolutely love your videos! I really loved this one about Marisa Tomei as I think Best Supporting Actress is my favourite Oscar category. I’d love to hear your take on Best Supporting Actress of 1962. Again, I just love your channel ❤

[duaneind]

FRITZ I HAVE BEEN DYING FOR SOMEONE TO DO A DEEP DIVE ON THIS!!! THANK YOU!

[slc]

Great overview of Tomei's Oscar win and career. I love how you addressed the tiresome bias of drama over comedy in terms of deeming a performance award-worthy. Tomei's does fantastic, singular work in "Vinny" that does not pale in comparison to just about any other winner in the category- she completely nails the role. I believe I remember Mike Clark in USA Today pushing hard for Tomei during awards season, so at least she had one known media presence in her corner.

[michelehamilton]

Marisa was also so great in In the Bedroom.