For the first time since 1929, the year the Oscars were handed out first, none of the actors nominated for Best Actor received a nomination for a performance in any of the Best Picture nominees.
Eddie Murphy was so distressed over losing Best Actor in a Supporting Role to Alan Arkin that he left after the award was announced and did not return to the ceremony. As a result he did not see his Dreamgirls (2006) co-star, Jennifer Hudson win Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Of the twenty actors nominated that year, Judi Dench was the only one not in attendance. She had recently had knee surgery and was still hospitalized on Oscar night.