Christopher Plummer wins Oscar for playing a gay widower in Beginners

Canadian Christopher Plummer has won his first Oscar at the age of 82.

In Hollywood, Plummer was honoured for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a gay senior in Beginners, which as directed by Mike Mills.

The star who rocketed to international fame in The Sound of Music in 1965 has become the oldest actor in history to win an Academy Award.

“You’re only two years older than me, darling, where have you been all my life?” Plummer quipped as he held the statue.

The Artist took home Best Picture and its director, Michel Hazanavicius, won the Oscar for Best Director. Its star, Jean Dujardin, won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Best Actress went to Meryl Streep for her performance in The Iron Lady.

Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help.

A Separation was honoured as Best Foreign Film, coming out ahead of Canada's Monsieur Lazhar.

Meanwhile, Woody Allen won for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight in Paris, and Alexander Payne, Nat Foxon, and Jim Rash were awarded Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants.

The Artist also won for Best Original Score, whereas The Muppets won for Best Original Song with "Man or Muppet".