He may be "The Dictator," but no one expected Sacha Baron Cohen to kill a presenter at the 2013 BAFTA Britannia Awards on Nov. 9. in Los Angeles. The British actor and comedian was honored with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy, and decided to pull a little stunt on his way up to the podium.
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Presenting the award was actress Salma Hayek and Grace Cullington, the oldest living actress to work with Charlie Chaplin in a silent movie. Cullington presented Cohen with Charlie Chaplin's cane from the 1931 iconic film City Lights. The actor proceeded to dance around the stage imitating Chaplin's signature "Tramp" walk.
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen pushes Grace Cullington (actually a stunt performer) off the stage at the 2013 BAFTA Britannia Awards on Nov. 9, 2013 in Los Angeles.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA
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But tragedy struck when the Les Miserables actor paused to lean on the cane while standing behind Cullington. He fell forward, knocking her wheelchair off the stage much to the horror of the shocked crowd.
Cohen rushed off the stage to help the now-"lifeless" Cullington, and a security guard eventually carried the body off the stage. Following the incident, the crowd was visibly shaken, until Cohen began his speech with the joke, "Grace Cullington is the oldest, no, sorry, was the oldest surviving [Chaplin costar]. I dedicate my award to her. This is obviously a tragedy. She has upstaged me. But on the bright side, what a great way to go, giving an award to me. "
The physical comedian continued the prank saying, “I’d like to say a few words to her family: Do not try to sue me. If you decide to get the lawyers involved, I will take you down just like I did your granny. The cane that woman forced on me was clearly defective and I’ve got lots of witnesses. At least 400 in this room and at least 500 watching on TV. Anyway, tonight is not about her, it’s about me.”
