Triple Crown of Acting Biography

[Stable] The Triple Crown of Acting is recognized as a term used in the American entertainment industry to describe actors who have won a competitive Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award in the acting categories, the highest awards recognized in American film, television, and theater, respectively. The term "Triple Crown" is used in other competitive areas, such as the Triple Crown of Horse Racing. Only 24 people, 15 women and 9 men, have achieved the Triple Crown. Helen Hayes became the first actor to do so with her Emmy Award on February 5, 1953. Less than two months later, Thomas Mitchell became the first man to do so when he received a Tony Award on March 29, 1953. Hayes, Rita Moreno, and Viola Davis are the only Triple Crown winners in competitive acting categories who have also won a Grammy Award to complete the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). Living winners of the Triple Crown of Acting are Rita Moreno, Jeremy Irons, Vanessa Redgrave, Al Pacino, Geoffrey Rush, Ellen Burstyn, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, and Viola Davis. == Summary == == Triple Crown winners == === Helen Hayes === American actress Helen Hayes (1900–1993) was the first performer to achieve the triple crown of acting, doing so in 1953. Hayes is remembered as a 9-time Emmy (1), 3-time Tony (2), and 2-time Oscar (2) nominee, for a total of 14 TC nominations. She won two Oscars, two Tonys and an Emmy for a total of five competitive triple crown awards. Hayes also won a Grammy in 1977 for Best Spoken Word Recording to complete the EGOT. Hayes is one of only three Triple Crown winners (along with Rita Moreno and Viola Davis) to have achieved EGOT status. Academy Awards: 1932: Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Sin of Madelon Claudet 1971: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Airport Primetime Emmy Awards: 1953: Best Actress Tony Awards: 1947: Best Actress in a Play – Happy Birthday 1958: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Time Remembered === Thomas Mitchell === American actor and writer Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962) completed the triple crown in 1953, two months after Helen Hayes. He was a 3-time Emmy (1), 2-time Oscar (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of six TC nominations. Mitchell won three awards. Academy Awards: 1940: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Stagecoach Primetime Emmy Awards: 1953: Best Actor Tony Awards: 1953: Distinguished Musical Actor – Hazel Flagg === Ingrid Bergman === Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) completed the triple crown in 1960, making her the youngest to achieve it. She was a 7-time Oscar (3), 3-time Emmy (2), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 11 TC nominations. Bergman won six awards. Academy Awards: 1945: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Gaslight 1957: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Anastasia 1975: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Murder on the Orient Express Primetime Emmy Awards: 1960: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress (Lead or Support) – Startime (Episode: "The Turn of the Screw") 1982: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – A Woman Called Golda Tony Awards: 1947: Best Actress in a Play – Joan of Lorraine === Shirley Booth === American actress Shirley Booth (1898–1992) completed the triple crown in 1962. She was a 4-time Emmy (2), 3-time Tony (3), and 1-time Oscar (1) nominee, for a total of eight TC nominations. Booth won six awards. Academy Awards: 1953: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Come Back, Little Sheba Primetime Emmy Awards: 1962: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) – Hazel 1963: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) – Hazel Tony Awards: 1949: Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – Goodbye, My Fancy 1950: Best Actress in a Play – Come Back, Little Sheba 1953: Distinguished Dramatic Actress – The Time of the Cuckoo === Melvyn Douglas === American actor Melvyn Douglas (1901–1981) completed the triple crown in 1968. He was a 3-time Oscar (2), 2-time Emmy (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of six TC nominations. Douglas won four awards. Academy Awards: 1964: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Hud 1979: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Being There Primetime Emmy Awards: 1968: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama – CBS Playhouse (Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night") Tony Awards: 1960: Best Leading Actor in a Play – The Best Man === Paul Scofield === English actor Paul Scofield (1922–2008) completed the triple crown in 1969. He was a 2-time Oscar (1), 1-time Emmy (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of four TC nominations. Scofield won three awards. His seven-year completion is the fastest of any triple crown recipient. Academy Awards: 1967: Best Actor in a Leading Role – A Man for All Seasons Primetime Emmy Awards: 1969: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male of the Species Tony Awards: 1962: Best Leading Actor in a Play – A Man for All Seasons === Jack Albertson === American actor, comedian, dancer and singer Jack Albertson (1907–1981) completed the triple crown in 1975. He was a 5-time Emmy (2), 2-time Tony (1), and 1-time Oscar (1) nominee, for a total of eight TC nominations. Albertson won four awards. Academy Awards: 1969: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – The Subject Was Roses Primetime Emmy Awards: 1975: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music – Cher 1976: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Chico and the Man Tony Awards: 1965: Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play – The Subject Was Roses === Rita Moreno === Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer Rita Moreno (brought into the world on 1931) completed the triple crown in 1977. She is a 6-time Emmy (2), 1-time Oscar (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of eight TC nominations. Moreno has won 4 TC qualifying awards. She is the first Hispanic actor to win the Triple Crown. Moreno also won a Grammy in 1973 for Best Recording for Children to complete the EGOT. She is one of only three Triple Crown winners (along with Helen Hayes and Viola Davis) to have also achieved EGOT status. Academy Awards: 1962: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – West Side Story Primetime Emmy Awards: 1977: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music – The Muppet Show (Episode: "Rita Moreno") 1978: Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Comedy or Drama Series – The Rockford Files (Episode: "The Paper Palace") Tony Awards: 1975: Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – The Ritz === Maureen Stapleton === American actress Maureen Stapleton (1925–2006) completed the triple crown in 1982. She was a 7-time Emmy (1), 6-time Tony (2), and 4-time Oscar (1) nominee, for a total of 17 nominations. Stapleton won four awards. Academy Awards: 1982: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Reds Primetime Emmy Awards: 1968: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama – Among the Paths to Eden Tony Awards: 1951: Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – The Rose Tattoo 1971: Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Gingerbread Lady === Jason Robards === American actor Jason Robards (1922–2000) completed the triple crown in 1988. He was an 8-time Tony (1), 5-time Emmy (1), and 3-time Oscar (2) nominee, for a total of 16 TC nominations. Robards won four awards. Academy Awards: 1977: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – All the President's Men 1978: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Julia Primetime Emmy Awards: 1988: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special – Inherit the Wind Tony Awards: 1959: Best Leading Actor in a Play – The Disenchanted === Jessica Tandy === British-American actress Jessica Tandy (1909–1994) completed the triple crown in 1990. She was a 5-time Tony (3), 3-time Emmy (1), and 2-time Oscar nominee (1), for a total of 10 TC nominations. Tandy won five awards. Academy Awards: 1990: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Driving Miss Daisy Primetime Emmy Awards: 1988: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special – Foxfire Tony Awards: 1947: Best Actress in a Play – A Streetcar Named Desire 1978: Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Gin Game 1983: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Foxfire === Jeremy Irons === English actor and activist Jeremy Irons (born 1948) completed the triple crown in 1997. He is a 3-time acting Emmy (2), 1-time Oscar (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of five TC nominations. Irons has won four TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1991: Best Actor in a Leading Role – Reversal of Fortune Primetime Emmy Awards: 1997: Outstanding Voice-Over Performance – The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century 2006: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – Elizabeth I Tony Awards: 1984: Best Leading Actor in a Play – The Real Thing Note: Irons has an additional Emmy win in a non-acting category, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator in 2014 for Game of Lions. === Anne Bancroft === American actress Anne Bancroft (1931–2005) completed the triple crown in 1999. She was a 6-time (1) acting Emmy, 5-time Oscar (1), and 3-time Tony (2) nominee, for a total of 14 TC nominations. Bancroft won four awards. Academy Awards: 1963: Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Miracle Worker Primetime Emmy Awards: 1999: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Deep in My Heart Tony Awards: 1958: Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – Two for the Seesaw 1960: Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Miracle Worker Note: Bancroft won an additional Emmy in 1970 in the category Outstanding Variety or Musical Program – Variety and Popular Music, as the star of the special Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man. === Vanessa Redgrave === English actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937) completed the triple crown in 2003. She is a 6-time Oscar (1), 6-time Emmy (2), and 3-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 15 TC nominations. Redgrave has won four TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1978: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Julia Primetime Emmy Awards: 1981: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special – Playing for Time 2000: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – If These Walls Could Talk 2 Tony Awards: 2003: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Long Day's Journey into Night === Maggie Smith === English actress Maggie Smith (1934–2024) completed the triple crown in 2003. She was a 9-time Emmy (4), 6-time Oscar (2), and 3-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 18 TC nominations. Smith was the first and only Triple Crown winner to win seven TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1970: Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 1979: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – California Suite Primetime Emmy Awards: 2003: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – My House in Umbria 2011: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Downton Abbey 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey 2016: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey Tony Awards: 1990: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Lettice and Lovage === Al Pacino === American actor Al Pacino (born 1940) completed the triple crown in 2004. He is a 9-time Oscar (1), 3-time Emmy (2), and 3-time Tony (2) nominee, for a total of 15 TC nominations. Pacino has won five TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1993: Best Actor in a Leading Role – Scent of a Woman Primetime Emmy Awards: 2004: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – Angels in America 2010: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – You Don't Know Jack Tony Awards: 1969: Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play – Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? 1977: Best Leading Actor in a Play – The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel === Geoffrey Rush === Australian actor Geoffrey Rush (born 1951) completed the triple crown in 2009. He is a 4-time Oscar (1), 2-time Emmy (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of seven TC nominations. Rush has won three TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1997: Best Actor in a Leading Role – Shine Primetime Emmy Awards: 2005: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Tony Awards: 2009: Best Leading Actor in a Play – Exit the King === Ellen Burstyn === American actress Ellen Burstyn (born 1932) completed the triple crown in 2009. She is an 8-time Emmy (2), 6-time Oscar (1), and 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 15 TC nominations. Burstyn has won four TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1975: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Primetime Emmy Awards: 2009: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Swing") 2013: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Political Animals Tony Awards: 1975: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Same Time, Next Year === Christopher Plummer === Canadian actor Christopher Plummer (1929–2021) completed the triple crown in 2012. He was a 7-time Emmy (2), 7-time Tony (2), and 3-time Oscar (1) nominee, for a total of 17 TC nominations. Plummer won five awards. With his Oscar win in 2012, Plummer became the oldest person to complete the Triple Crown at the age of 82. Academy Awards: 2012: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Beginners Primetime Emmy Awards: 1977: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series – The Moneychangers 1994: Outstanding Voice-Over Performance – Madeline Tony Awards: 1974: Best Leading Actor in a Musical – Cyrano 1997: Best Leading Actor in a Play – Barrymore === Helen Mirren === English actress Helen Mirren (born 1945) completed the triple crown in 2015. She is an 11-time Emmy (4), 4-time Oscar (1), and 3-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 18 TC nominations. Mirren has won six TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 2007: Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Queen Primetime Emmy Awards: 1996: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special – Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness 1999: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – The Passion of Ayn Rand 2006: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Elizabeth I 2007: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Prime Suspect: The Final Act Tony Awards: 2015: Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Audience Note: Mirren is the only person to have also won the British Triple Crown of Acting by being awarded the three equivalent honours in the British entertainment industry: a BAFTA Film Award, a BAFTA Television Award, and a Olivier Award; Also she has an additional Emmy win in a non-acting category, winning the Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Host in 2022 for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. === Frances McDormand === American actress and producer Frances McDormand (born 1957) completed the triple crown in 2015. She is a 6-time acting Oscar (3), 2-time Tony (1), and 2-time acting Emmy (1) nominee, for a total of 10 TC nominations. McDormand has won five TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1997: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Fargo 2018: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 2021: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Nomadland Primetime Emmy Awards: 2015: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie – Olive Kitteridge Tony Awards: 2011: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Good People Note: McDormand has two additional Emmy and Oscar wins in non-acting categories, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series for executive producing Olive Kitteridge, and the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing Nomadland. === Jessica Lange === American actress Jessica Lange (born 1949) completed the triple crown in 2016. She is a 10-time Emmy (3), 6-time Oscar (2), and 2-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 18 TC nominations. Lange has won six TC qualifying awards. Academy Awards: 1983: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tootsie 1995: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Blue Sky Primetime Emmy Awards: 2009: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Grey Gardens 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – American Horror Story: Murder House 2014: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – American Horror Story: Coven Tony Awards: 2016: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Long Day's Journey into Night === Viola Davis === American actress and producer Viola Davis (born 1965) completed the triple crown in 2017. She is the first African American to achieve the triple crown. She is a 4-time Oscar (1), 3-time Tony (2), and 5-time Emmy (1) nominee, for a total of 12 TC nominations. Davis has won four TC qualifying awards. She also won a Grammy in 2023 for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording to complete the EGOT. Davis is one of only three Triple Crown winners (along with Helen Hayes and Rita Moreno) to have also achieved EGOT status. Academy Awards: 2017: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Fences Primetime Emmy Awards: 2015: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – How to Get Away with Murder Tony Awards: 2001: Best Featured Actress in a Play – King Hedley II 2010: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Fences === Glenda Jackson === English actress and former Member of Parliament (MP) Glenda Jackson (1936–2023) completed the triple crown in 2018. She was a 5-time Tony (1), 5-time Emmy (3), and 4-time Oscar (2) nominee, for a total of 14 TC nominations. Jackson won six awards. Her forty-eight-year completion is the longest of any triple crown recipient. Academy Awards: 1971: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Women in Love 1974: Best Actress in a Leading Role – A Touch of Class Primetime Emmy Awards: 1972: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Elizabeth R 1972: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series – Elizabeth R International Emmy Awards: 2020: Best Performance by an Actress – Elizabeth Is Missing Tony Awards: 2018: Best Leading Actress in a Play – Three Tall Women == See also == Academy Awards Emmy Awards Children's and Family Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Awards International Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Awards Tony Awards EGOT == References ==

Professional Timeline

• 1953: Award Achievement