Zack Gottsagen, who performed in the 2019 comedy-drama “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” became the first presenter in 92nd Oscars history with Down syndrome.
He was joined by his co-star Shia LaBeouf
Gottsagen and LaBeouf, 33, both announced the Best Live-Action Short Film, which was won by The Neighbor’s Window.
Gottsagen received a standing ovation from the crowd when he came on stage with LaBeouf at the Dolby Theater on Sunday night.
They took turns reading from the prompter on the Oscar stage before Gottsagen announced, ‘And the Oscar goes to…’
LaBeouf read incorrectly the winner as The Neighbor’s Widow, not The Neighbor’s Window. LaBeouf and Gottsagen both came on the red carpet together as well, and they were looking handsome in coordinating tuxedos. Gottsagen wore a silver bowtie and LaBeouf had a black bowtie.
Gottsagen starts his career as an actor from The Peanut Butter Falcon as Zak, who runs away from his care home to try and fulfill his dream of becoming a pro wrestler.
The film also stars Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church, Jon Bernthal, John Hawkes, along with real pro wrestlers Jake ‘the Snake’ Roberts and Mick Foley.
Gottsagen will be following up The Peanut Butter Falcon with his second feature film, Best Summer Ever, which is in post-production.
The film will premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March, with the other cast including Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Benjamin Bratt.
Best Summer Ever is described as, ‘a fresh and exhilarating take on the beloved teen musical genre featuring eight original songs and a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities.’
LaBeouf is also doing his indie hit Honey Boy, in which he is acting and also wrote the screenplay.
He’ll next be seen in The Tax Collector, a gritty urban street drama which reunites him with Fury director David Ayer.
The actor is currently shooting for Pieces of a Woman, starring alongside Vanessa Kirby, Sarah Snook, and Benny Safdie.
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