Only 6 Actors Among the Oscar Nominee Lunch Bunch

As usual at any Oscar-related event, the attention at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominees’ luncheon Tuesday was on the actors. But only six of the 20 nominated performers showed up.

Anne Archer (“Fatal Attraction”), the first nominated performer to arrive at the Beverly Hilton, walked regally through the crowd of 150 fans, while Robin Williams (“Good Morning, Vietnam”) hurried and Sally Kirkland (“Anna”) stopped to sign autographs.

Even after a security guard for the academy tried to hurry her along, Kirkland stooped to sign autograph books for vacationers Amy and Carrie Goldstein, 9 and 11 respectively, of Valley Forge, Pa.

“We’re so glad we’re here,” Carrie said breathlessly.

Anne Ramsey (“Throw Mama From the Train”) also attended the luncheon. The academy said that 70 nominees were there.

Among those who weren’t there were Cher (“Moonstruck”), Glenn Close (“Fatal Attraction”), Meryl Streep (“Ironweed”), Holly Hunter (“Broadcast News”), Jack Nicholson (“Ironweed”) and Sean Connery (“The Untouchables”).

Inside the Hilton, in a scene that could have come from one of his comedies, Albert Brooks (“Broadcast News”) fended off a Jim Brooks name tag being pressed on him by an academy staffer. “No, no, I’m Albert,” he explained. James L. Brooks, no relation, was the director and writer of “Broadcast News”; he is nominated for his screenplay.

Michael Douglas (“Wall Street”) tried to bypass the interview room, where dozens of reporters were crushed together to talk to the nominees.

“Did you go, Albert?” Douglas asked Brooks. And when Brooks said he had, Douglas agreed to go.