The Associated Press
Best actress Halle Berry and best actor Denzel Washington pose with their Oscar trophies during the 74th annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

History at the Oscars

Washington, Berry shine brightest on night of stars

DAVID GERMAIN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Monday, March 25, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- Denzel Washington joked he's been trailing Sidney Poitier for decades.

At Sunday's Academy Awards, he caught up.

The actor got to present Poitier with an honorary award, shortly before Washington and Halle Berry joined Poitier as the only blacks to win Oscars for lead roles. Washington won for his role as a corrupt cop in "Training Day" and Berry for her turn as a death-row widow in "Monster's Ball."

Berry and Washington's wins overshadowed other top Oscar categories, dominated by "A Beautiful Mind," a tale of triumph over mental adversity dramatizing the life of schizophrenic mathematician John Nash. "A Beautiful Mind" took best picture, director for Ron Howard, supporting actress for Jennifer Connelly and adapted screenplay.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," which had led the field with 13 nominations, also won four awards -- for score, cinematography, visual effects and makeup.

Nominations for Berry, Washington and Will Smith of "Ali" marked the first time in 29 years that three blacks had been nominated for lead roles. And it was the first time a black won a lead-acting Oscar since Poitier for 1963's "Lilies of the Field."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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