NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — In what appears to be an atypical choice, producers of the Tony Awards have selected veteran actor Kevin Spacey as the host for the 2017 edition of the awards show.
“I was their 2nd choice for Usual Suspects, 4th choice for America Beauty and 15th choice to host this year's Tony Awards. I think my career is definitely going in the right direction,” said Spacey. “Maybe I can get shortlisted to host the Oscars if everyone else turns it down.”
Spacey is no stranger to Broadway stages and has his own Tony Award, which he won in 1991 for his role in "Lost in Yonkers." However, hosting duties for the Tonys in recent years have gone to comedic actors and musical performers, such as James Corden, who oversaw the festivities last year. Corden was a boon for the award show’s ratings, with more than 8.7 million viewers, up 35 percent from previous year last year.
Spacey, who also has a pair of Academy Awards – one for the "Usual Suspects" (1996) and another for "American Beauty" (2000), is most recently known for his portrayal as the scheming politician in Netflix's "House of Cards."
“We are thrilled to have Kevin, who has mastered the Broadway stage, the big and small screens and the West End, host this year’s Tony Awards. His spirit and passion for live theatre makes him the perfect host, and we can’t wait to see the energy he brings to Radio City on Tony night,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing, in a statement.
The 2017 Tony Awards will take place on June 11th at Radio City Music Hall with most of the show carried live on CBS. – Staff Writers
