Stars Who’ve Hosted The Oscars The Most Times, Ranked
There have been decades of Oscar nights where one job mattered as much as any envelope. Hosting the Academy Awards sets the tone for Hollywood’s biggest evening, and a handful of stars have been asked to take that spotlight again and again. This roundup gathers the people who have helmed the show the most, noting exactly when they stood center stage and whether they shared the mic or steered the ceremony solo.
You will find the years that each star hosted and useful context about those broadcasts. When a host returned, we point out the run of appearances and any notable firsts or memorable onstage moments that became part of Oscar history.
Jack Benny
Jack Benny hosted in 1944 and returned in 1947. His first turn came during the war era at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, while the second was staged at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Both shows leaned on Benny’s reputation from radio and film, and his assignments helped cement the Academy’s early reliance on established comedians to guide the night’s pacing and keep the broadcast moving.
James Stewart
James Stewart served as host in 1946 as part of a team and came back in 1958 as a cohost for the thirtieth ceremony. His appearances bookend a period when the Oscars often used ensembles instead of a single emcee.
The 1946 show celebrated films released during the final year of the war, and the 1958 edition at the RKO Pantages Theatre reflected the growing scale of the telecast as television audiences expanded.
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra hosted in 1963 and then returned in 1975 as a cohost. His first outing followed the year he won for supporting actor, and his second came during the golden age of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion era.
Across both ceremonies Sinatra’s presence connected Hollywood’s classic studio voices with the modern broadcast era, and his 1975 appearance placed him among a multi host lineup for the fiftieth Academy Awards.
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. cohosted in 1972 and again in 1975. The 1972 show marked the first ceremony held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion after a short run at the Music Center.
His 1975 return paired him with several stars for the fiftieth presentation, which used multiple emcees to cover the extended program and special anniversary segments.
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor cohosted in 1977 and came back in 1983 as part of another team. His first appearance placed him alongside Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, and Ellen Burstyn.
The 1983 telecast adopted the same ensemble approach, spreading duties among comedians and actors to balance comedy bits with the formal presentation of awards throughout the evening.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda cohosted in 1977 and returned in 1986. Her first turn was part of a four person team that blended comedy and drama pedigrees on the same stage.
In 1986 she joined an ensemble at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where the show emphasized film milestones and used multiple emcees to cover tributes and performances.
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase cohosted in 1987 and then hosted solo in 1988. His first year included a multi host format at the Shrine Auditorium.
The 1988 ceremony moved to a single host setup with Chase returning as the sole emcee, guiding a broadcast that emphasized straightforward pacing and a focus on the nominated films.
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart hosted in 2006 and again in 2008. Both shows were staged at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, with the second arriving during the first decade of the high definition era for the telecast.
His two turns featured topical monologue openings and extended presenter bits, along with a format that balanced comedy set pieces with the show’s musical performances.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres hosted in 2007 and returned in 2014. The first ceremony followed the Academy’s move to the Kodak Theatre, while the second was produced at the Dolby Theatre after its name change.
Her 2014 show included audience interaction segments and a reconfigured stage layout that brought presenters closer to the front rows, a design choice that influenced later broadcasts.
Chris Rock
Chris Rock hosted in 2005 and then again in 2016. His first outing took place at the Kodak Theatre with a streamlined set and rapid fire presenter transitions.
The 2016 return addressed contemporary industry conversations and used filmed pieces between awards to maintain pacing while keeping most category presentations on the main stage.
Conrad Nagel
Conrad Nagel hosted in 1930, returned in 1932 as a cohost, and made a third appearance in 1953 as part of a team. His early assignments came when the ceremony was still finding its footing and experimenting with formats.
The 1953 appearance coincided with one of the first widely televised Oscar nights, underscoring how the Academy relied on veteran emcees to anchor the transition from banquet to broadcast.
David Niven
David Niven cohosted in 1958 and 1959 and returned in 1974 as part of a multi host lineup. His 1959 ceremony included his own best actor win for Separate Tables, making him both host and honoree in the same year.
The 1974 broadcast at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is remembered for an onstage streaker incident that occurred as Niven was introducing a presenter, an unscripted moment that became one of the show’s most cited clips.
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis cohosted in 1956 and 1957 and did so again in 1959. Each of these programs used multiple hosts to cover different sections of the show as the ceremony expanded in length and scope.
Lewis also famously ad libbed when the 1959 broadcast ran short, filling unexpected minutes on live television, which highlighted how the Academy depended on seasoned comics to handle timing issues on the fly.
Steve Martin
Steve Martin hosted in 2001 and 2003, then returned in 2010 alongside Alec Baldwin. The first two shows were solo assignments at the newly opened Kodak Theatre.
The 2010 ceremony used a cohost pairing to mix monologues and two person bits, and the production leaned into pre filmed comedy pieces to complement the live elements between categories.
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon first hosted in 1958 as part of an ensemble, then served solo in 1964, returned as a cohost in 1972, and hosted again in 1985. His assignments spanned three decades and multiple venues.
Lemmon’s range as both comic and dramatic actor made him a versatile emcee for changing show formats, from team hosting to the single host model that became more common in later years.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg hosted four times in 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2002. Her 1994 appearance marked the first time a woman hosted the ceremony solo, and it was also the first solo outing by a Black host.
Across her four shows Goldberg leaned into elaborate costume changes and themed entrances that matched major categories, and she handled presenter transitions during years with large slates of musical performances.
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel hosted in 2017 and 2018, then returned in 2023 and 2024. His four appearances all took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
These shows featured recurring audience participation bits, pre taped segments that extended into Hollywood Boulevard, and a focus on tighter running times while preserving live musical numbers for the song nominees.
Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson hosted five times in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1984. These Shrine Auditorium and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion era shows leaned on his skills from late night to keep the broadcast on schedule.
Carson’s run defined the modern template for a recurring host, with consistent opening monologues, quick handoffs to presenters, and minimal mid show interruptions that could slow the ceremony.
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal hosted nine times in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2012. His openings often featured musical medleys that referenced the best picture nominees of the year.
Crystal’s recurring assignments helped stabilize the show during the 1990s and early 2000s, and his frequent return reflected the Academy’s preference for a familiar tone and predictable pacing in years with evolving production teams.
Bob Hope
Bob Hope hosted a record nineteen times, beginning in 1940 and continuing through 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1975, and 1978. His assignments spanned radio era banquets and the rise of television, with both solo and multi host formats.
Hope’s long tenure made him synonymous with the Oscars for generations, and his recurring presence provided continuity as the ceremony changed venues, lengthened its running time, and transitioned into a global broadcast.
Share your favorite Oscar host memories in the comments and tell us who you want to see take the stage next.