JACK NICHOLSON AND DUSTIN HOFFMAN NAMED AS PRESENTERS ON OSCAR® TELECAST

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Multiple Academy Award® winners Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman will present on this year’s Oscar telecast, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.

Nicholson has been nominated 12 times and won for his leading performances in “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) and ”As Good as It Gets” (1997). He also won the award for supporting actor in 1983 for “Terms of Endearment.”

Hoffman, who has been nominated seven times, won for his leading performances in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) and “Rain Man” (1988). He has received critical acclaim for his feature film "Quartet," which marks his directorial debut and is currently in theaters.

“Between the two of them, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman have created more iconic characters than any other pair of actors in the world,” said Zadan and Meron. “Their participation in this year’s Oscars completes a list of presenters and performers that truly represents that great breadth and depth of acting talent in film today.”

Previously announced Oscar presenters include Jane Fonda, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Stewart, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Douglas, Jamie Foxx, Paul Rudd, Salma Hayek Pinault, Melissa McCarthy, Liam Neeson, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, Ted and "Marvel's The Avengers" cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo; returning 2011 Oscar winners Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep; "Chicago" cast members Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones; special guests Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron; and performers including Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit and Helena Bonham, Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand.

Oscars® for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24 at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. For more information go to Oscar.com or download the official Oscars app.

Celebrity Impressionist Goes Viral with Richard III

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 23, 2012  -- Oscar nominee George Clooney and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were joined by Woody Allen, Ricky Gervais, Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard and a host of other notables in a brief, but memorable video production of Richard III by celebrity impressionist Jim Meskimen.

With "Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices," which went viral in July of 2011, followed by "Celebrity Alphabet" and the holiday themed, "Twas the Night Before Christmas in Celebrity Voices," viewers worldwide began to "Accept Imitations." As long as they were from Meskimen, anyway.

"...Expert celebrity impersonator Jim Meskimen gives the freshest, funniest take on Clarence's death dream (from Richard III) we've seen ... well, ever." said Entertainment Weekly.

The New York Times.com said, "Meskimen is a very talented impressionist, but what's most impressive here is that he not only imitates obligatory celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, George W. Bush, Jack Nicholson and Jimmy Stewart but also people like George Clooney, Paul Giamatti and Ricky Gervais, celebrities you wouldn't think were ripe for impressions until you hear his takes on them."

The viral videos were created to promote the show, JIMPRESSIONS, in which the audience is taken on a tour of celebrity voices from past and present; over 65 impressions in 75 minutes of mesmerizing one-man theater.

Meskimen ups the ante in his live show, offering a live version of "Shakespeare Impressions" with volunteers from the audience challenging him with random celebs to speak the Bard's verse.

A veteran of numerous films, TV shows and commercials, including five films for Academy Award-winning director, Ron Howard, Meskimen has many claims to fame.

His impressionist/improv abilities won him fame on Britain's Whose Line is it, Anyway?

Meskimen became a household voice during the 2004 Presidential election, when he provided singing impressions of President G.W. Bush, John Kerry and others in the mega-viral Jibjab hit, "This Land," which topped 80 million views.

He even played a recurring role as an amateur (i.e. poor) impressionist/host on NBC's hit Parks & Recreation.

Now, Meskimen brings his full range of vocal talents directly to fans of spot-on celebrity impressions in his touring one-man show, JIMPRESSIONS, beginning with a six week run in Hollywood at The Acting Center.

Audiences in the U.K., Canada and in the States, Chicago, Florida, Boston, Atlanta and Australia embraced the JIMPRESSIONS show enthusiastically in 2011, demonstrating a strong appetite for a new, fresh look at the art of celebrity mimicry. As Gather.com put it, "Hopefully, friends from 'Down Under' have sent a message to folks 'Up Over' and that is the world needs more JIMPRESSIONS."

JIMPRESSIONS comes to Hollywood for a six-weekend run starting February 17 & 18th at 8 p.m.

JIMPRESSIONS, written and performed by Jim Meskimen, directed by Tait Ruppert and produced by The Acting Center, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. February 17 through March 24.

For information and reservations, go to http://www.theactingcenterla.com/jimpressions.