The golden statuette known as the Oscar remains the ultimate symbol of cinematic achievement, yet its history is filled with surprising mysteries and chaotic heists. Behind the prestige of the Academy Awards lies a legacy of contested nicknames and a dramatic real-life recovery mission that rivaled a Hollywood script.

The elusive origin of the Oscar name has sparked decades of debate among film historians and industry legends alike. Where did this name come from?

The origins of the Academy Award’s famous nickname are a blend of Hollywood legend and personal anecdotes, involving three primary claimants from the industry’s golden age. Most famously, Academy librarian Margaret Herrick is credited with remarking in 1931 that the golden figure bore a striking resemblance to her Uncle Oscar.

Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky also took credit, asserting that he adopted the name in a 1934 column to puncture the phony dignity of the formal title, though his writing suggested the term was already a common industry slang.

Actress Bette Davis famously offered a more colorful theory, claiming she named the award after her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. She maintained that the statuette’s posterior was a spit for her husband's, though she later retracted this claim after realizing the name had been in circulation years before her first win.

Despite these conflicting stories, the Academy officially adopted the moniker in 1939, forever cementing the name of the priceless statuette as a global symbol of cinematic excellence.

Meet the Unconventional Stars of 'The Singers': Who’s Who in Netflix’s Oscar-Newcomer

The prestige of these awards makes them a prime target for those looking to claim a piece of history.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the year 2000 featured a heist that could have derailed the entire ceremony when 55 statuettes were stolen from a loading dock. In a bizarre twist of fate, a junk dealer named Willie Fulgear discovered 52 of the missing awards discarded in a supermarket dumpster.

He eventually received a $50,000 reward and an invitation to walk the red carpet alongside the stars he helped save. Despite the successful recovery of most trophies, the investigation revealed a tangled web of local crime and family betrayal.

Fulgear’s brother was eventually charged with receiving stolen property, and a truck driver pleaded no contest to grand theft charges. This dramatic episode prompted the Academy to implement significantly stricter security protocols for the transportation of the golden figures.

Will Oscars 2026 Stream on Netflix? Where and How Can You Watch the Academy Awards Live?

What do you think about the origin of the name of the Oscar statuette? Let us know in the comments.