Billy Crystal Returns as Host for 84th Academy Awards

Academy Awards producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced that Billy Crystal will serve as host for the 84th Academy Awards. Crystal will replace Eddie Murphy, who resigned earlier this week after his friend Brett Ratner was forced to resign. (For more, see Eddie Murphy Withdraws as Oscar Host).

“I’m thrilled to welcome Billy back to the Oscar stage,” said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak. “He’s a comic legend and Oscar icon, and it feels good to have him back where he belongs.”

“Like so many others, I’ve been eager to see Billy host again. It’s very gratifying that he agreed to do it with Don and me at the helm,” said Grazer,

This will mark Crystal’s ninth time as host. Only Bob Hope has hosted more Academy Awards presentations, with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978. Crystal last hosted the Academy Awards in 2004.

“Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there. Actually, I am doing this so that the young woman in my pharmacy will stop asking me my name when I pick up my prescriptions,” said Crystal.