It may have been Hollywood’s biggest night, but all eyes were on a pizzeria owner when he showed up onstage to deliver slices to hungry A-listers during the Oscars telecast.
Edgar, who owns one of the Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizzeria establishments in Hollywood, was filling an order for several party pizzas to the Dolby Theatre during the Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night when he suddenly found himself onstage while a billion viewers watched him on TV.
Appearing as a guest on the Ellen Show Monday, Edgar said he had been expecting to deliver pizzas to writers backstage, and was “just shocked” when Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres brought him before the audience.
“Then when I was there, they just told me ‘wait here’ and you came out,” Edgar told DeGeneres during a taping of her daytime talk show.
He said DeGeneres then told him to follow her.
“Then I’m going and I’m on the stage. I was just shocked,” he said. “It was really crazy.”
But Edgar, clad in a less-than-formal sweatshirt, sneakers and baseball cap, kept his cool as he and DeGeneres handed out cheesy slices to some of the biggest stars in the world, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Harrison Ford and a pregnant Kerry Washington.
“Who’s your favourite movie star, they’re here. Who do you want to talk to?” DeGeneres said as Brad Pitt helped the pair hand out disposable plates.
The gag continued as DeGeneres turned to the audience to gather tip money, including Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
“Harvey, no pressure, only a billion people watching, whatever you feel is right,” DeGeneres said.
She later passed around singer Pharrell’s giant hat as an makeshift collection plate.
During Edgar’s guest appearance on her show, DeGeneres paid up, handing Edgar a $1,000 tip.
Edgar said he and his brother own the pizzeria, which is part of a chain.
But the best part of the night for Edgar? Meeting Julia Roberts.
“I was always watching her movies back in Moscow,” he said.
