James Ivory Oldest Oscar Winner Ever After 'Call Me By Your Name' Win

James Ivory earned his first Academy Award nomination in the Best Director category in 1985 for “A Room With A View” at the age of 57.  32 years and three subsequent nominations later he finally held an Oscar in his hands for adapting André Aciman’s novel “Call Me By Your Name” in the Adapted Screenplay category.  It was sweet justice for Ivory who was expected to direct “Call Me” until producers realized the only way they could get financing was if Luca Guadagnino helmed instead.

James Ivory: A pity there is no frontal nudity in ‘Call Me By Your Name’

Ivory takes the oldest winner record from Christopher Plummer who won Best Supporting Actor for “Beginners” in 2012 at the age of 82.  Plummer was also nominated this year in the same category for “All The Money In The World.”

A California native, Ivory has helmed such classic films as “Maurice,” “Howard’s End,” “The Remains of the Day” and the aforementioned “A Room With A View.”  The latter two were both nominated for Best Picture.  This was Ivory’s first screenwriting nomination as he was previously recognized by the director’s branch for “Room With A View,” “Howard’s End” and “Remains of the Day.” Ivory also won the WGA and BAFTA Award for this category.

He was also associated with his longtime producing partner Ismail Merchant who passed away in 2005.

Other honors on Ivory’s long list of career accolades include three BAFTA awards, a special prize at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the DGA in 1995,