The 16 Most Tear-Jerking Oscar Acceptance Speeches

These emotional moments onstage of Halle Berry honoring Black actresses and Gwyneth Paltrow praising her family will have you reaching for a tissue

Winning an Academy Award is the highlight of anyone's career — and that often shows in heartfelt and tear-jerking acceptance speeches.

From politically-charged monologues to bleep-worthy moments, you truly never know what you'll get when honorees take to the Oscars stage to accept their hard-earned trophy before the orchestra inevitably cuts them off early.

However, at the heart of any great acceptance speech is a moment of reflective gratitude — using the time to shout out mentors, costars, loved ones and communities who have had their backs along the way.

So, before the 2026 Oscars present us with another batch of emotional tributes, let's look back at some of the most memorable ways celebrities have expressed their appreciation to others while receiving their golden statuettes.

Sandra Bullock Recognizes Her Mom and Mothers Everywhere

"I would like to thank what this film was about for me, which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from," Sandra Bullock said during the latter half of her heartfelt speech. "Those moms and parents never get thanked. I, in particular, failed to thank one."

Getting choked up, Bullock continued, "So… if I can take this moment to thank Helga B. for not letting me ride in cars with boys till I was 18, 'cause she was right; I would've done what she said I was gonna do. For making me practice every day when I got home — piano, ballet, whatever it is I wanted to be. She said to be an artist you had to practice every day. And for reminding her daughters that there's no race, no religion, no class system, no color, nothing, no sexual orientation, that makes us better than anyone else. We are all deserving of love."

— accepting Best Actress for The Blind Side in 2010

Tom Hanks Remembers Two Influential Men in His Life

"I would not be standing here if it weren't for two very important men in my life, so… two that I haven't spoken with in awhile, but I had the pleasure of just the other evening." Tom Hanks said. "Mr. Rawley Farnsworth, who was my high school drama teacher, who taught me to act well the part, there all the glory lies. And one of my classmates under Mr. Farnsworth, Mr. John Gilkerson."

Hanks added, "I mention their names because they are two of the finest gay Americans, two wonderful men that I had the good fortune to be associated with, to fall under their inspiration at such a young age. I wish my babies could have the same sort of teacher, the same sort of friends. And there lies my dilemma here tonight. I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels."

— accepting Best Actor for Philadelphia in 1994

Viola Davis Pays Tribute to Fences Playwright August Wilson

Viola Davis began her acceptance speech: "You know, there's one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered. One place. And that's the graveyard. People ask me all the time, 'What kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola?' And I say, 'Exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition. People who fell in love and lost.'"

"I became an artist — and thank God I did — because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life," she continued. "So, here's to August Wilson, who exhumed and exalted the ordinary people."

— accepting Best Supporting Actress for Fences in 2017

Robin Williams Pokes Fun at His Late Father

"And most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who, when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, 'Wonderful, just have a backup profession like welding.' Thank you. God bless you," said the late Robin Williams at the time.

— accepting Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting in 1998

Matthew McConaughey Sends Love to His Family

"To my family, that's who and what I look forward to. To my father, who I know is up there right now with a big pot of gumbo. He's got a lemon meringue pie over there. He's probably in his underwear and he's got a cold can of Miller Lite. And he's dancin' right now. To you, Dad, you taught me what it means to be a man," said Matthew McConaughey.

He continued, "To my mother who's here tonight, who taught me and my two older brothers — demanded — that we respect ourselves, and what we in turn learned was then we were better able to respect others. Thank you for that, Mama. To my wife, Camila [Alves], and my kids — Levi, Vida and Mr. Stone [Livingston] — the courage and significance you give me every day I go out the door is unparalleled. You are the four people in my life that I want to make the most proud of me. Thank you."

— accepting Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014

Frances McDormand Toasts Women in the Industry

"If I may be so honored to have all the female nominees in every category stand with me in this room tonight. The actors — Meryl [Streep], if you do it everybody else will, c'mon. The filmmakers. The producers. The directors. The writers. The cinematographer. The composers. The songwriters. The designers. C'mon!" Frances McDormand said in her speech.

She continued, "Okay, look around, everybody. Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don't talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple days — or you can come to ours, whichever suits you best — and we'll tell you all about them. I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider."

— accepting Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2018

Halle Berry Honors Black Actresses Who Paved the Way

"This moment is so much bigger than me," said Halle Berry of her historic win. "This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It's for the women that stand beside me — Jada Pinkett [Smith], Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox. And it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you. I'm so honored. I'm so honored."

— accepting Best Actress for Monster's Ball in 2002

Louise Fletcher Thanks Her Deaf Parents in Sign Language

"For my mother and my father, I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true," said Louise Fletcher while using American Sign Language (ASL).

— accepting Best Actress for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1976

Dustin Lance Black Supports LGBTQ+ Youth

"When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married," Dustin Lance Black said.

Black, who married Olympic diver Tom Daley in 2017, continued: "I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you God does love you, and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours."

— accepting Best Original Screenplay for Milk in 2009

Gwyneth Paltrow Praises Her Family

"I would not have been able to play this role had I not understood love of a tremendous magnitude, and for that I thank my family. My mother, Blythe Danner, who I love more than anything, and my brother, Jake Paltrow, who is just the dearest person in the whole world," Gwyneth Paltrow said. "And especially to my father, Bruce Paltrow, who has surmounted insurmountable obstacles this year. I love you more than anything in the world."

Paltrow continued, "And to my grandpa, Buster, who almost made it here tonight but couldn't quite get here. Grandpa, I want you to know that you have created a beautiful family who loves you and loves each other more than anything, and we thank you for that."

— accepting Best Actress for Shakespeare in Love in 1999

Lupita Nyong'o Sends a Message to Children

"When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you're from, your dreams are valid," Lupita Nyong'o said.

— accepting Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave in 2014

Jennifer Hudson Reflects on Her Late Grandmother's Impact

"I have to just take this moment in. I cannot believe this. Look what God can do. If my grandmother — I didn't think I was going to win, but, wow, if my grandmother was here to see me now," Jennifer Hudson said. "She was my biggest inspiration for everything because she was a singer, and she had the passion for it but she never had the chance, and that was the thing that pushed me forward to continue."

— accepting Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls in 2007

Heath Ledger's Family Pays Tribute to Him a Year After His Death

"This award tonight would've humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here, his peers, within an industry he so loved," the late Heath Ledger's father, Kim, said when accepting his son's award, just over a year after his death.

Ledger's mother, Sally, chimed in, saying, "Heath was such a compassionate and generous soul who added so much excitement and inspiration to our lives. We have been truly overwhelmed by the honor and respect being bestowed upon him with this award. Tonight we are choosing to celebrate and be happy for what he has achieved."

The speech came to a close with a statement from Ledger's sister, Kate, who said: "Heath, we both knew what you had created in the 'Joker' was extraordinarily special and had even talked about being here on this very day. We really wish you were, but we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful Matilda."

— accepting Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight in 2009

Troy Kotsur Shouts Out His Family and His Community

"My dad, he was the best signer in our family. But he was in a car accident and he became paralyzed from the neck down, and he no longer was able to sign," Troy Kotsur said in ASL, accompanied by an interpreter, in a historic win. "Dad, I learned so much from you. I'll always love you. You are my hero."

"Thank you to my biggest fans: my wife and my daughter Kyra, and my hometown of Mesa, Arizona…," he continued. "I just wanted to say that this is dedicated to the deaf community, the CODA community, and the disabled community. This is our moment. To my mom, my dad and my brother Mark — they're not here today, but look at me now. I did it! I love you."

— accepting Best Supporting Actor for CODA in 2022

Ke Huy Quan Reflects on His Dream-Come-True Moment

"Mom, I just won an Oscar!" Ke Huy Quan began. "My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood's biggest stage. They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it's happening to me. This! This is the American dream!"

"Thank you to my mom for the sacrifices she made to get me here. To my little brother David, who calls me every day just to remind me to take good care of myself. I love you, brother," he continued. "I owe everything to the love of my life, my wife Echo, who month after month, year after year, for 20 years told me that one day, one day, my time will come. Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive."

— accepting Best Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023

Olivia Colman Makes Us Laugh Through the Tears

"It's genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious; got an Oscar," Olivia Colman began.

"And any little girl who is practicing their speech on the telly, you never know. And when I used to work as a cleaner, and I loved that job, I did spend quite a lot of my time imagining this — oh, please wrap up. Right, okay," she continued, sticking out her tongue and blowing a raspberry. "Thank you. And my husband Ed [Sinclair], my best friend, I love you so much. Twenty-five years and you've been my best supporter, and he's gonna cry. I'm not."

— accepting Best Actress for The Favourite in 2019

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