Sean Penn’s name was mentioned at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night, but the Hollywood veteran wasn’t there to collect his trophy.
Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Steven J. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.
Instead of walking across the Dolby Theater stage, the actor appeared only on the big Oscar screen when last year’s winner, Kieran Culkin, accepted the award in his absence.
“Sean Penn couldn’t be here tonight, or didn’t want to, so I’ll accept the award on his behalf,” Culkin joked to the audience.
Penn’s absence from the Oscars capped a series of missed appearances.
He was also absent from the BAFTAs in London and the Actor Awards in Los Angeles earlier this season, despite winning the Supporting Actor category at both.
According to The New York Times, Penn had flown to Europe in the days before the ceremony, and the outlet’s sources said his plan was to visit Ukraine.
Insiders did not specify details of his itinerary, leaving questions about where exactly he intended to go or what he planned to do there.
Professional milestone
The win marks Penn’s third Academy Award, placing him among acting legends Daniel Day Lewis, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman.
He previously won Best Actor for Mystic River (2004) and Milk (2009), with additional nominations for Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown and I Am Sam.
