It’s been tight race between Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington throughout awards season, but on Sunday night the Academy deemed the Manchester By the Sea star this year’s Best Actor winner.

Affleck, who is a first-time Oscar winner, also scooped up Best Actor wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and the Critics’ Choice Awards. In Kenneth Lonergan’s heartbreaking drama Affleck plays, Lee Chandler, a man tortured by a tragedy from his past who struggles to return home and care for his nephew. Affleck also beat out Ryan Gosling for La La LandAndrew Garfield for Hacksaw Ridge, and Viggo Mortensen for Captain Fantastic.

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