Simmons Wins Supporting Prize As Oscars Kick Off In Rain

Veteran character actor J.K. Simmons took the first award at Sunday's Academy Award ceremonies, kicking off Hollywood's 87th annual honors for the motion-picture business by capturing best supporting actor honors for his role in "Whiplash." The Oscar awards ceremony and preceding red-carpet gala took place under what could be considered inclement weather for the Los Angeles region. Periodic drizzles soaked streets and sent nominees under a protective cover as they strode past press and fans toward the Dolby Theater in downtown Hollywood. The three-hour-plus ceremony is expected to produce the closest horse race for this year's best picture, as "Boyhood" and "Birdman" are considered the hottest prospects for the top prize.