The Best Original Song winner, "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile: Calle de ilusiones (2002), was not performed at the ceremony. Reportedly, ABC asked Eminem to perform an edited version of the rap, but he refused (and did not attend the ceremony nor pick his Oscar up). It was the first time since the Awards were first telecast that the Best Original Song winner was not performed.
Of the twenty nominated actors that year, Paul Newman was the only one not in attendance. He had decided a few years earlier that he was through with award ceremonies.
An ambulance was placed on standby outside the theater for Catherine Zeta-Jones, who was eight months pregnant at the time with her daughter.
When Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas presented the award for Best Picture, rather than reading it on the spot, Kirk opened the envelope and tore the card in half. He then handed the other half to his son, Michael, and together they announced the winner: Chicago (2002).
After being nominated 5 times, winning twice and several return visits to present, this was to be Olivia de Havilland's final appearance at an Academy Award ceremony.