Oscars 2017: Casey Affleck wins Best Actor Academy Award for his role in Manchester By The Sea

CASEY Affleck was overcome with emotion as he was named the winner of Best Actor at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.

A shocked Casey admitted that Denzel Washington was one of the stars who taught him how to act while he stated he was honoured to be in the company of his other nominees.

He admitted: "I wish I had something more profound to say... thank you to Matt Damon.

"Ben, I love you."

The star was up against Andrew Garfield, Viggo Morteson, Ryan Gosling and Denzel Washington.

Other winners on the night included Mahershala Ali taking home the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in Moonlighting.

He embraced the film's director Barry Jenkins on his way up to the stage where he said: "My Grandma would want me to button up.

"Wow, I want to thank my teacher and my professors, they told me is that it's not about you, it's about the characters, you are in service to your character and your stories, I'm so blessed to have had this opportunity."

The actor welcomed his first child Bari Najma on February 22 and thanked his wife Amatus Sami-Karim saying: "My wife was in her third trimester doing awards seasons, we just had a daughter four days ago. I just want to thank her for being such a soldier through this process."

Viola Davis was the second major award winner to be announced as she took home the best supporting actress gong for her role in Fences.

The actress received a standing ovation and cheers as she won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Fences.

Davis, who has been nominated twice before for Doubt and The Help, had been the frontrunner for the prize all through awards season.

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