It may not sound like a big deal today, as Hollywood award shows have become hyper-infused with politics and activism of all kinds. But at the 60th Academy Awards in 1988, politics weren’t a common thing at the annual celebration of Hollywood’s best films.
The award show was progressing along nicely and Glenn Close and Michael Douglas came on stage to present the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
Olympia Dukakis was announced the winner for her performance in “Moonstruck” and she came up to receive her gold statuette.
After her brief thanks to Norman Jewison, the director of Moonstruck, and her family and friends back home in New Jersey, she elevated her voice and raised her arm high above her head and cried out:
“Okay Michael Let’s Go!”
She was referring to her first cousin Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was running for President of the United States.
Her “political outburst” was the lead story of newspapers around the world.
