Sean Penn a noticeable no-show as he wins his third Oscar

Sean Penn has won his third acting Oscar, but the famously gruff star was a noticeable no-show at the awards.

Penn, 65, took out the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in action thriller One Battle After Another, over Aussie Jacob Elordi, but it was left to Kieran Culkin to accept the award on his behalf.

"Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening, or didn't want to, so I will be accepting the award on his behalf," Culkin, last year's winner in the category, said to laughs from the crowd.

Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here

While Culkin was joking, the truth is Penn has never been fond of award shows.

He skipped this year's BAFTAs and Actor Awards, despite being nominated for and winning both, and has previously expressed his opposition to award shows.

The New York Times reported Penn had travelled to Europe in the days before the Oscars and was planning to be in Ukraine today.

READ MORE: Brooklyn and Nicola turn heads at Elton's Oscars bash

READ MORE: Oscars host Conan O'Brien mocks stars in monologue

READ MORE: Oscars after-party chef reveals what stars will eat

Penn has been a vocal supporter of the country and its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the four years since the Russian invasion.

He even gave one of his acting Oscars to Zelenskyy in 2022.

It could also be that Penn opted out of the Oscars after his 2026 Golden Globes appearance landed him in hot water when he was caught lighting up a cigarette while at the table.

Penn was seated beside Leonardo DiCaprio, his co-star in One Battle After Another, which was nominated for a slew of Golden Globes, when he lit up.

A number of photos from inside the ceremony showed the butt of a cigarette in the glass in front of Penn as he sat next to DiCaprio for a photo. 

But it was The Wall Street Journal entertainment industry reporter Ben Fritz who snapped a photo of Penn taking a drag from his cigarette, which he uploaded to X along with the comment, "This can't be legal".

The post caught the attention of media outlets, who criticised Penn's actions.

According to the 2024 California Clean Air Laws, smoking is prohibited in hotels, motels and restaurants.

Penn is one of the most prolific actors and filmmakers of his generation, having starred in a slew of films during a career spanning five decades.

He won Academy Awards for Best Actor for the 2003 film Mystic River and Milk, in which he played real-life gay rights activist turned politician Harvey Milk.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here

However, he has a complicated relationship with stardom, having been charged with assaulting several journalists, a photographer and a film extra.

In recent years, he has become increasingly political, often criticising the US government over its handling of natural disasters and international affairs.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.