At age 82, Best Supporting Actor winner Christopher Plummer became the oldest person to win a competitive Oscar.
Brett Ratner was originally announced as producer of the show on August 4, 2011. He resigned in November the same year after causing controversy by saying "rehearsal is for fags" following a screening of Le Casse de Central Park (2011). He was replaced with Brian Grazer.
Marks the third time that Glenn Close and Meryl Streep have competed against each other in the Best Actress category. They were also nominated alongside each other in 1988 and 1989.
Eddie Murphy was originally hired as host. When original producer Brett Ratner, who worked with Murphy on Le Casse de Central Park (2011), resigned on November 8, 2011, Murphy also resigned. Billy Crystal stepped in as his replacement.
Meryl Streep received a record-breaking 17th acting nomination, while John Williams became the most nominated composer ever with his 46th and 47th nomination that year.