Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, pictured here attending the Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House in Washington on Dec. 4, 2016, will host the 71st Annual Tony Awards. Reuters/Yuri Gripas

It’s time for “House of Cards” actor Kevin Spacey to break a leg on-stage. The Oscar winner will host the 2017 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11 at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS, The American Theatre Wing announced on Tuesday. The ceremony will be broadcasted live from Radio Hall City in New York City.

The 57-year-old actor, who won a Tony award in 1991 for best featured actor in a play for “Lost In Yonkers,” will host the Tony Awards for the first time. The Emmy-nominated star jokingly said in a statement, “I was their second choice for ‘Usual Suspects,’ fourth choice for ‘America Beauty’ and fifteenth choice to host this year’s Tony Awards. I think my career is definitely going in the right direction. Maybe I can get shortlisted to host the Oscars if everyone else turns it down.”

Spacey has so far won two Oscar Awards – one for “The Usual Suspects” and another for “American Beauty.” He has also been nominated several times for playing Frank Underwood in Netflix series “House of Cards.” He has also won a Golden Globe Award and a SAG Award for playing a conniving politician on the show.

READ: “House of Cards” star discusses bizarre sex fantasy scene with Kevin Spacey.

The President of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, and the President of the American Wing Theatre, Heather Hitchens, said in a joint statement, “We are thrilled to have Kevin, who has mastered the Broadway stage, the big and small screens and the West End, host this year’s Tony Awards. His spirit and passion for live theatre makes him the perfect host, and we can’t wait to see the energy he brings to Radio City on Tony night!”

Many people are unaware that Spacey was the artistic director for The Old Vic Theatre Company in London for many years. However, he has big shoes to fill as a host. Last year, late-night talk show host James Corden hosted the Tony Awards which earned its best ratings in 15 years, according to TVLine.

Nominations for the 71st Annual Tony Awards will be announced on Tuesday, May 2. The ceremony will air live on Sunday, June 11 at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.

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