four decades after his film debut, palance won an academy award for best supporting actor on march 30, 1992 for his performance as cowboy curly washburn in the comedy "city slickers" (1991). stepping onstage to accept the award, the 6' 4" (1.93 m) actor looked down at 5' 7" (1.70 m) oscar host billy crystal (who was also his co-star in the movie), and joked, mimicking one of his lines from the film, "billy crystal... i crap bigger than him." he then dropped to the floor and demonstrated his ability, at age 73, to perform one-armed push-ups.