image007Casey Affleck won the best actor Oscar on Sunday for his role as a grief-stricken father in family drama "Manchester by the Sea." It was the first Oscar for Affleck, 41, the younger brother of "Argo" director and actor Ben Affleck. Affleck's understated performance as a taciturn working man who unexpectedly has to look after his teenage nephew beat challenges from Denzel Washington and Ryan Gosling to win the Academy Award. Affleck swept awards in the run-up to the Oscars, taking home a Golden Globe and numerous trophies from film critics groups. The wins came despite 2010 sexual harassment allegations that resurfaced as Affleck's Oscar prospects gathered steam. Two civil lawsuits alleging unwanted advances were filed by female crew members on another movie, and were settled out of court for undisclosed sums. Affleck's lawyer at the time denied the allegations. – Reuters