Casey Affleck Wins Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea at Oscars

Photo via AP

Score one for Massachusetts. Casey Affleck has just been named Best Actor at the Oscars for his heart-wrenching role as a grieving New Englander in a sleepy ocean-side community.

The complex and tragic movie had been nominated for five other awards: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Lucas Hedges, Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan).

This was Affleck’s first Oscar. He was also nominated in 2006 for Best Supporting Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

In his acceptance speech, he gave shout-outs to Director Kenneth Lonergan, big brother Ben, Matt Damon, and Denzel Washington.

Casey Affleck wins Best Actor: “One of the first people who taught me how to act was Denzel Washington… thank you.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/FzBCwe5dbY

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017

Competition was stiff. Affleck, who was also awarded Best Actor at the Golden Globes, beat out Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic), and Denzel Washington (Fences) to win the Oscar.

But the academy couldn’t pass up Affleck’s understated performance, filmed in scenic and gritty environs in the North Shore (Gloucester, mostly).

Director Kenneth Lonnergan opened up with Boston back in November about the movie, Affleck’s complex character, and why people like shooting movies around here so much.

Nicole Kidman, likely, is pleased. She says she watched Manchester and was brought to tears.

Matt Damon, possibly, feels left out. The Manchester producer passed up the opportunity for the part, and starred instead in Great Wall. Oscars host and nemesis Jimmy Kimmel roasted him for that during his opening monologue tonight. “Smooth move, dumbass,” Kimmel said.

Photo by Claire Folger/AP