Fitzgerald's family claimed that he was a descendant of 18th century patriot
William Orr, a claim he dismissed. He was a childhood friend of
James Joyce and he was briefly the roommate of playwright
Sean O'Casey. He was often typecast as a thick-accented
Irishman, especially after his Oscar-winning role in
Going My Way? as a
Catholic priest. Ironically, Fitzgerald was a
Protestant.
Going My Way? was nominated for
Oscars in ten categories and won in seven. The
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was dismayed at Fitzgerald's double nomination, and no doubt breathed a sigh of relief when he lost
Best Actor to his costar
Bing Crosby. They quickly changed the rules so no actor would be nominated in two categories for the same role ever again.
Fitzgerald, like every Oscar winner during
World War II, took home a statue made of
plastic due to wartime rationing. The $10 plastic statues were given out with the promise of an authentic one once the war was over. A few hours after the award ceremony, Fitzgerald was practicing his
golf swing in his
living room when he
decapitated his plastic Oscar.
Paramount bought him a new one the next day.