Sean Penn Wins His Third Oscar but Misses the Ceremony
Sean Penn secured his third Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in One Battle After Another, although he was noticeably absent from the Dolby Theater during the ceremony.
Penn triumphed over strong contenders, including his co-star Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi from Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo from Sinners, and Stellan Skarsgård from Sentimental Value.
When presenter Kieran Culkin announced his name, it was apparent that Penn, who had also skipped the Actors Awards and the BAFTAs, was not in attendance. He did, however, make an appearance at the Golden Globes in January, where he won the same award.
“Sean Penn couldn’t be here tonight, or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting this award on his behalf,” Culkin stated.
According to the New York Times, Penn was traveling to Europe en route to Ukraine.
In One Battle After Another, Penn portrays the antagonist Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw. He was considered a frontrunner in the category, with prediction markets estimating an 80% chance of winning over Skarsgård and Lindo.
Lockjaw is depicted as a character who imprisons and deports undocumented migrants at the Mexican border. His storyline intersects with the revolutionary group French 75, leading him to encounter Perfidia Beverly Hills, played by Teyana Taylor. The character develops a troubling fascination with her, ultimately coercing her into a relationship that results in her bearing a child, portrayed by Chase Infiniti. Lockjaw’s character arc presents a conflict as he seeks to prevent the white supremacist secret society Christmas Adventurers from discovering his ties.
The competition for Best Supporting Actor was initially wide open, with various accolades going to other nominees. Elordi won at the Critics Choice, Skarsgård took home the Golden Globe, and Del Toro earned recognition from several critics’ organizations. Lindo also gained momentum, particularly after the Actors Award, where he spoke following the ensemble win for One Battle After Another.
Penn, who has been a vocal critic of the Academy, previously won Oscars for Mystic River in 2003 and Milk in 2008. Notably, he presented his Oscar for Mystic River to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2022, suggesting that it be returned to him once the war concludes.
