Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)

"First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald becomes the first Black
woman to win a Grammy at the Recording Academy’s inaugural
awards show on May 4, 1959.

During the event at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Fitzgerald
took home two of 28 awards for best jazz and female vocal
performances. “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song
Book” bested performances by Doris Day, Eydie Gorme, Peggy
Lee and Keely Smith for best female vocal performance.

In contrast “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book”
won for jazz performance.

That year, Count Basie became the first Black man to win a
Grammy, also taking home two awards, for best jazz group
performance and best performance by a dance band.

Comedian Carol Burnett played both dramatic and comedic roles
on stage and screen. She has received numerous awards and
accolades, including seven Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy
Award, seven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards,
and a Tony Award.

Burnett was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 2005.

On April 7, 1949, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South
Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in New
York City. The romantic musical about World War II, which
touches on controversial racial themes, went on to run for
almost five years, becoming one of the most popular musicals
of the 1950s.

By the time James Cameron (above) took the stage to accept
his Academy Award for Best Director on the night of March 23,
1998, the Oscar dominance of his blockbuster film Titanic was
all but assured.

Titanic tied the record for most Oscar nominations with 14—
joining 1950’s _All About Eve—_and by night’s end would tie
with Ben Hur (1959) for most wins by sweeping 11 categories,
including the coveted Best Picture.

Oldman is known for his versatility and intense acting style,
he has received various accolades, including an Academy
Award, a Golden Globe Award, three British Academy Film
Awards, and nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

His films have grossed over $11 billion worldwide, making
im one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

1991

Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald.

Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017)
He won the Academy Award for Best Actor.