December 15, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jane LaBonte - (310) 247-3090

Beverly Hills, CA - Actor/writer Peter Coyote will be "The Voice of Oscar" at the 72nd Academy Awards^® telecast, producers Richard D. and Lili Fini Zanuck announced today. This will be actor's first involvement with the show.

As the Oscar telecast's voice-over announcer, Coyote's duties will include welcoming the television viewers to the ceremony, announcing the presenters to the stage and teasing upcoming show highlights.

Coyote enjoys a high profile in the acting and political worlds. He recently authored a best selling memoir of the '60s, "Sleeping Where I Fall." He has made over 50 films for film and television. His theatrical acting credits include: "Sphere," "Bitter Moon," "Jagged Edge" and "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial."

Academy President Robert Rehme pointed out that this won't be the first time that a member of the Academy has handled the announcing chores for the Oscar show. The announcer for the then-radio-only broadcast in 1950 was Actors branch member Ronald Reagan.

The ceremonies honoring 1999 achievements in motion pictures will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2000. The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be broadcast live from the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium by the ABC Television Network, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (PST), preceded at 5 p.m. by a network pre-show.