Whitaker to help read Oscar nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Forest Whitaker has agreed to help announce nominations for the 81st Academy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., organizers said Tuesday.

Whitaker and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis are slated to unveil the nominations in 10 of the 24 award categories at a 5:30 a.m. PT news conference Thursday at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

In 2006, Whitaker took home the Leading Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland." He recently completed work on "My Own Love Song" and will be seen next in "Hurricane Season."

Whitaker has also directed several films, including "First Daughter," "Hope Floats" and "Waiting to Exhale." His other acting credits include "Vantage Point," "The Great Debaters," "Phenomenon," "Smoke," "The Crying Game," "Bird," "Good Morning, Vietnam" and "Platoon."