O'Connell was with dying mom while being bashed at Oscars
Oscar's biggest loser Kevin O'Connell is ignoring the slap he got from one winner of the sound-mixing award who dissed him back in the press room soon after claiming the statuette that's eluded O'Connell so far.
"I think Kevin should go away with 19 nominations," "Dreamgirls" champ Michael Minkler told reporters. "Kevin is an OK mixer, but he should take up another line of work."
When I contacted O'Connell via email to ask for a response, I was not aware of a tragic development in his personal life. He replied: "As you may or may not know, my mother Skippy passed away on Sunday night right after the Oscars. I was holding her in my arms when she died. I was not made aware of Mr. Minkler's comments until Monday morning. I have not seen them personally and at this point I have no intention of looking at them or reading about them. I'll get back to you when I get that far down on my list of what is important to me. Take care, Kevin."
Two days ago Kris Tapley of InContention.com asked O'Connell's sound-mixing partner, Greg P. Russell, for a reply to Minkler's press-room outburst. Russell responded by being far less diplomatic, insisting that Minkler wasn't joshing: "He was absolutely sincere with that BULLS**T. That man has lost whatever respect he had from a ton of people. Kevin, mind you, left the ceremonies right after our award and went to the hospital where his mother passed away in his arms at 11:32 pm. As if Kevin didn't have enough to deal with. He wakes up to this bullshit."
Back in November I interviewed O'Connell for the Times' first Envelope Oscar print supplement of this season and conducted a podcast chat with him for Gold Derby. (CLICK HERE to read or listen.) The Envelope offers the deepest condolences to a top film talent upon having suffered — all that Oscar stuff aside — the biggest loss of all.
Photo: "Apocalypto" sound mixer O'Connell has been a good sport about his frustrating quest for overdue academy acknowledgment. "I haven't won the award yet," he told Gold Derby last November, "but I've had a good run!" It's likely that he'll be nominated next for "Spider-Man 3" since he received past bids for "Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man 2."
I think that Michael Minkler was totally out of order in that comment, I respect his work when listening to films at home, but now I have no respect for those unkind words, I bet Minkler feels like a right ole Muppet now, I bet he didn’t know that Kevin rushed off to hospital. Man I hope Kevin wins this year for Transformers that would make his mom so proud.
Posted by: Andy Summers | January 29, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, I cannot imagine how that must feel.
Please keep up the fantastic work you do and forget about the creeps and arses.
Posted by: Michelle | March 02, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Kevin,
you're a classy guy, my condolences.
Posted by: Mozz Mendez | March 02, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Unfortunately there are more Michael Minklers in this industry than we realize. Why be so sore and abusive when you're holding the damn trophy in your hand? I say O'Connell for president...of the sound mixing guild.
Posted by: SY | March 02, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Apocolypto's sound was amazing. Phenomenal job Mr. O'Connell. 1 guy winning 1 oscar will not be remembered 10, 20 or 50 years from now. If you won on your first try, I do not think you would have the fan base that you have acquired from the attention your massive amount of nominations has given you. Who cares if you don't get your Oscar until your 50th nomination, you will have done 50 Oscar Nomination caliber movies in the mean time. That is worth being known for. Keep up the amazing work, we will keep listening to your movies.
Posted by: Mark Van Horn | March 02, 2007 at 08:08 AM
19 times means he's doing something right, and wether he ever wins or not, more people know his name (even if it is just as an Oscar "Underdog") then that other jerk - or any other sound mixer -ever will. Bad form and very unprofeessional, Mr. whats-your-name.
And my sympathy to Mr. O'Connell and his family during this difficult time.
Posted by: kcholt68 | March 01, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Damn... Poor guy. Even more tragic when you consider the fact that his mom was the one who set him on his career path.
Best of luck, Kevin
Posted by: Scott Riesterer | March 01, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Kevin and Greg will actually probably wind up with two nods next year. In addition to Spidey 3, they're also working on Transformers.
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley | March 01, 2007 at 05:34 PM
> Oscar's biggest loser Kevin O'Connell
Not true: I guarantee you Minkler's a *far* bigger loser than Kevin O'Connell. Getting nominated 19 times is no small feat. Knowing what's really important in life is an even bigger one. I wish O'Connell luck for next year, when I have no doubt we'll see his name on the ballot once again.
Posted by: Susan | March 01, 2007 at 03:02 PM
My heartfelt condolences to you Kevin. Don't worry about your dear mother Skippy, she'll be right there looking over your shoulder on the night you win your well deserved Oscar. God Bless You!
Posted by: Debby | March 01, 2007 at 02:47 PM
My sincerest condolences to Kevin in his time of loss of a loved one. Kevin is a fantastic human being as well as a great mixer. I know that in the luck of the draw Kevin will someday be victorious and at time I hope to be first in line with KUDO's.
Marty Cohen
Posted by: martin cohen | March 01, 2007 at 02:19 PM
This is very, very sad news :-(
Posted by: Fer | March 01, 2007 at 01:07 PM
my heart felt condolences to Mr. O'Connell. i forward my best to you during this difficult time.
many of us are aware of your fine work.
Posted by: teri | March 01, 2007 at 12:13 PM
My best wishes to Kevin.
I am sure he would get his oscar next year with Spider Man 3.
He is still young.
Posted by: Jose | March 01, 2007 at 08:50 AM