Triple Crown of Acting

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The Triple Crown of Acting is 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 is related to other competitive areas, such as the Triple Crown of horse racing.

Only 24 people, 15 women and nine 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, Maggie Smith, Al Pacino, Geoffrey Rush, Ellen Burstyn, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, and Viola Davis.

The British entertainment industry, which has links with its American counterpart through shared language and frequent cross-Atlantic production, has a Triple Crown of its own, consisting of the BAFTA Film Award, the BAFTA Television Award, and the Laurence Olivier Award. The eight actors who have completed the British Triple Crown in competitive acting categories are Judi Dench, Virginia McKenna, Peggy Ashcroft, Nigel Hawthorne, Julie Walters, Albert Finney, Helen Mirren, and Mark Rylance.

Only Helen Mirren has earned both the American and British Triple Crowns.

Summary

Actor Completed Years to
complete
Oscar Emmy Tony Total
wins
Ref.
Helen Hayes 1953 21 1932 1953 1947 5
Thomas Mitchell 1953 13 1940 1953 1953 3
Ingrid Bergman 1960 15 1945 1960 1947 6
Shirley Booth 1962 13 1953 1962 1949 6
Melvyn Douglas 1968 8 1964 1968 1960 4
Paul Scofield 1969 7 1967 1969 1962 3
Jack Albertson 1975 10 1969 1975 1965 4
Rita Moreno 1977 15 1962 1977 1975 4
Maureen Stapleton 1981 31 1982 1968 1951 4
Jason Robards 1988 29 1977 1988 1959 4
Jessica Tandy 1989 42 1990 1988 1948 5
Jeremy Irons 1997 13 1991 1997 1984 4
Anne Bancroft 1999 41 1963 1999 1958 4
Vanessa Redgrave 2003 25 1978 1981 2003 4
Maggie Smith 2003 33 1970 2003 1990 7
Al Pacino 2004 35 1993 2004 1969 5
Geoffrey Rush 2009 12 1997 2005 2009 3
Ellen Burstyn 2009 34 1975 2009 1975 4
Christopher Plummer 2011 38 2012 1977 1974 5
Helen Mirren 2015 19 2007 1996 2015 6
Frances McDormand 2015 18 1997 2015 2011 5
Jessica Lange 2016 33 1983 2009 2016 6
Viola Davis 2017 16 2017 2015 2001 4
Glenda Jackson 2018 47 1971 1972 2018 6

Triple Crown winners

Years given are the years of the respective ceremonies. Performers are listed in order of completing the Triple Crown.

Helen Hayes

American actress Helen Hayes (1900–1993) was the first performer to achieve the triple crown of acting, doing so in 1953. Hayes was 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. She also won a Grammy in 1977 for Best Spoken Word Recording to complete the EGOT, for competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony wins. Hayes is one of only three Triple Crown winners (along with Rita Moreno and Viola Davis) to have achieved EGOT status.

  1. 1932: Best Actress in a Leading RoleThe Sin of Madelon Claudet
  2. 1971: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleAirport
  1. 1953: Best Actress
  1. 1947: Best Actress in a PlayHappy Birthday
  2. 1958: Best Leading Actress in a PlayTime 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.

  1. 1940: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleStagecoach
  1. 1953: Best Actor
  1. 1953: Distinguished Musical ActorHazel Flagg

Ingrid Bergman

Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) completed the triple crown in 1960. 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.

  1. 1945: Best Actress in a Leading RoleGaslight
  2. 1957: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Anastasia
  3. 1975: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleMurder on the Orient Express
  1. 1960: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress (Lead or Support)Startime (Episode: "The Turn of the Screw")
  2. 1982: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialA Woman Called Golda
  1. 1947: Best Actress in a PlayJoan 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.

  1. 1953: Best Actress in a Leading RoleCome Back, Little Sheba
  1. 1962: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)Hazel
  2. 1963: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) – Hazel
  1. 1949: Best Featured Actress in a PlayGoodbye, My Fancy
  2. 1950: Best Actress in a PlayCome Back, Little Sheba
  3. 1953: Distinguished Dramatic ActressThe 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.

  1. 1964: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleHud
  2. 1979: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Being There
  1. 1968: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a DramaCBS Playhouse (Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night")
  1. 1960: Best Leading Actor in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1967: Best Actor in a Leading RoleA Man for All Seasons
  1. 1969: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male of the Species
  1. 1962: Best Leading Actor in a PlayA 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.

  1. 1969: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleThe Subject Was Roses
  1. 1975: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or MusicCher
  2. 1976: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesChico and the Man
  1. 1965: Best Featured Actor in a PlayThe Subject Was Roses

Rita Moreno

Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer Rita Moreno (born 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. Moreno is the first Hispanic actor to win the Triple Crown and is one of only three Triple Crown winners who have also achieved EGOT status.

  1. 1962: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleWest Side Story
  1. 1977: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or MusicThe Muppet Show (Episode: "Rita Moreno")
  2. 1978: Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Comedy or Drama SeriesThe Rockford Files (Episode: "The Paper Palace")
  1. 1975: Best Featured Actress in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1982: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleReds
  1. 1968: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama – Among the Paths to Eden
  1. 1951: Best Featured Actress in a PlayThe Rose Tattoo
  2. 1971: Best Leading Actress in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1977: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleAll the President's Men
  2. 1978: Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Julia
  1. 1988: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a SpecialInherit the Wind
  1. 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.

  1. 1990: Best Actress in a Leading RoleDriving Miss Daisy
  1. 1988: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a SpecialFoxfire
  1. 1947: Best Actress in a PlayA Streetcar Named Desire
  2. 1978: Best Leading Actress in a PlayThe Gin Game
  3. 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.

  1. 1991: Best Actor in a Leading RoleReversal of Fortune
  1. 1997: Outstanding Voice-Over PerformanceThe Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
  2. 2006: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieElizabeth I
  1. 1984: Best Leading Actor in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1963: Best Actress in a Leading RoleThe Miracle Worker
  1. 1999: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieDeep in My Heart
  1. 1958: Best Featured Actress in a PlayTwo for the Seesaw
  2. 1960: Best Leading Actress in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1978: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleJulia
  1. 1981: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialPlaying for Time
  2. 2000: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieIf These Walls Could Talk 2
  1. 2003: Best Leading Actress in a PlayLong Day's Journey into Night

Maggie Smith

English actress Maggie Smith (born 1934) completed the triple crown in 2003. She is a 9-time Emmy (4), 6-time Oscar (2), and 3-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 18 TC nominations. Smith is the first and only Triple Crown winner to win seven TC qualifying awards.

  1. 1970: Best Actress in a Leading RoleThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
  2. 1979: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleCalifornia Suite
  1. 2003: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieMy House in Umbria
  2. 2011: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieDownton Abbey
  3. 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey
  4. 2016: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey
  1. 1990: Best Leading Actress in a PlayLettice 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.

  1. 1993: Best Actor in a Leading RoleScent of a Woman
  1. 2004: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieAngels in America
  2. 2011: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – You Don't Know Jack
  1. 1969: Best Featured Actor in a PlayDoes a Tiger Wear a Necktie?
  2. 1977: Best Leading Actor in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1997: Best Actor in a Leading RoleShine
  1. 2005: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieThe Life and Death of Peter Sellers
  1. 2009: Best Leading Actor in a PlayExit 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.

  1. 1975: Best Actress in a Leading RoleAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
  1. 2009: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Swing")
  2. 2013: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MoviePolitical Animals
  1. 1975: Best Leading Actress in a PlaySame Time, Next Year

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:
  1. 2012: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleBeginners
  • Primetime Emmy Awards:
  1. 1977: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited SeriesThe Moneychangers
  2. 1994: Outstanding Voice-Over PerformanceMadeline
  • Tony Awards:
  1. 1974: Best Leading Actor in a MusicalCyrano
  2. 1997: Best Leading Actor in a PlayBarrymore

Helen Mirren

English actor 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.

  1. 2007: Best Actress in a Leading RoleThe Queen
  1. 1996: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a SpecialPrime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness
  2. 1999: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieThe Passion of Ayn Rand
  3. 2006: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Elizabeth I
  4. 2007: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Prime Suspect: The Final Act
  1. 2015: Best Leading Actress in a PlayThe 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.

  1. 1997: Best Actress in a Leading RoleFargo
  2. 2018: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  3. 2021: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Nomadland
  1. 2015: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a MovieOlive Kitteridge
  1. 2011: Best Leading Actress in a PlayGood 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.

  1. 1983: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleTootsie
  2. 1995: Best Actress in a Leading RoleBlue Sky
  1. 2009: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieGrey Gardens
  2. 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieAmerican Horror Story: Murder House
  3. 2014: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – American Horror Story: Coven
  1. 2016: Best Leading Actress in a PlayLong Day's Journey into Night

Viola Davis

American actress and producer Viola Davis (born 1965) completed the triple crown in 2017. She is the youngest person and 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. Davis is also one of only three Triple Crown winners who have also achieved EGOT status.

  1. 2017: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleFences
  1. 2015: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesHow to Get Away with Murder
  1. 2001: Best Featured Actress in a PlayKing Hedley II
  2. 2010: Best Leading Actress in a PlayFences

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.

  1. 1971: Best Actress in a Leading RoleWomen in Love
  2. 1974: Best Actress in a Leading Role – A Touch of Class
  1. 1972: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleElizabeth R
  2. 1972: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series – Elizabeth R
  1. 2020: Best Performance by an ActressElizabeth Is Missing
  1. 2018: Best Leading Actress in a PlayThree Tall Women

Two competitive awards

The following people have each won two out of the three major entertainment awards that honor acting in competitive categories.

Missing an Academy Award (Oscar)

  1. Jane Alexander
  2. Mary Alice
  3. Judith Anderson†,◊
  4. Bea Arthur
  5. Christine Baranski
  6. Ellen Barkin
  7. Gertrude Berg
  8. Philip Bosco3
  9. Pamela Brown
  10. David Burns
  11. Stockard Channing
  12. Kristin Chenoweth
  13. Glenn Close
  14. Jodie Comer
  15. James Corden
  16. Bryan Cranston
  17. Hume Cronyn†,◊
  18. Billy Crudup
  19. Tyne Daly
  20. Blythe Danner
  21. André De Shields
  22. Colleen Dewhurst
  23. Stephen Dillane4
  24. Nanette Fabray
  25. Laurence Fishburne
  26. Ed Flanders
  27. Helen Gallagher3
  28. Vincent Gardenia†,◊
  29. George Grizzard
  30. Julie Harris†,◊
  31. Neil Patrick Harris
  32. Rosemary Harris
  33. Sean Hayes
  34. George Hearn
  35. Edward Herrmann
  36. Gregory Hines3
  37. Judd Hirsch
  38. Hal Holbrook †, ◊
  39. Ken Howard
  40. Barnard Hughes
  41. Hugh Jackman
  42. Derek Jacobi
  43. Michael Jeter
  44. Cherry Jones
  45. James Earl Jones◊ NCA
  46. Madeline Kahn3 †,◊
  47. Shirley Knight†,◊
  48. Richard Kiley
  49. Swoosie Kurtz
  50. Nathan Lane
  51. Anthony LaPaglia
  52. John Larroquette
  53. Ron Leibman
  54. Margaret Leighton†,◊
  55. Judith Light
  56. John Lithgow
  57. Cleavon Little
  58. Alfred Lunt†,◊
  59. Mary Martin
  60. Roddy McDowall
  61. Laurie Metcalf
  62. Bette Midler
  63. Debra Monk
  64. Michael Moriarty
  65. Robert Morse
  66. Donna Murphy3
  67. Bebe Neuwirth
  68. Cynthia Nixon
  69. Mary-Louise Parker
  70. Mandy Patinkin
  71. Sarah Paulson
  72. David Hyde Pierce
  73. Amanda Plummer
  74. Billy Porter
  75. Diana Rigg
  76. Tony Shalhoub
  77. Phil Silvers
  78. Jeremy Strong
  79. Lily Tomlin
  80. Cicely Tyson †, ◊, NCA
  81. Dick Van Dyke
  82. Courtney B. Vance
  83. Eli Wallach †, NCA
  84. Jeffrey Wright

Missing an Emmy Award

  1. Alan Arkin†,◊
  2. Martin Balsam†,◊
  3. Ed Begley†,◊
  4. Yul Brynner
  5. Judi Dench
  6. Sandy Dennis
  7. José Ferrer†,◊
  8. Henry Fonda†,◊
  9. Joel Grey
  10. Alec Guinness†◊
  11. Marcia Gay Harden
  12. Rex Harrison
  13. Audrey Hepburn1
  14. Judy Holliday
  15. Lila Kedrova
  16. Kevin Kline
  17. Vivien Leigh
  18. Fredric March†,◊
  19. Walter Matthau†,◊
  20. Liza Minnelli1
  21. Paul Muni†,◊
  22. Patricia Neal†,◊
  23. Eddie Redmayne
  24. Anne Revere
  25. Mercedes Ruehl
  26. Mark Rylance
  27. Kevin Spacey
  28. Beatrice Straight†,◊
  29. Jo Van Fleet
  30. Denzel Washington2
  31. Catherine Zeta-Jones

Missing a Tony Award

  1. Julie Andrews
  2. Patricia Arquette
  3. Kathy Bates
  4. Halle Berry
  5. Marlon Brando
  6. Jim Broadbent4
  7. Art Carney†,◊
  8. Olivia Colman
  9. Bette Davis
  10. Laura Dern
  11. Michael Douglas
  12. Patty Duke
  13. Faye Dunaway
  14. Robert Duvall
  15. Sally Field
  16. Jane Fonda
  17. John Gielgud5 †,◊,NCA
  18. Ruth Gordon†,◊
  19. Louis Gossett Jr.
  20. Lee Grant
  21. Anne Hathaway
  22. Eileen Heckart†,◊,NCA
  23. Katharine Hepburn†,◊
  24. Dustin Hoffman
  25. William Holden
  26. Anthony Hopkins
  27. Helen Hunt
  28. Holly Hunter
  29. Allison Janney
  30. Nicole Kidman
  31. Regina King
  32. Cloris Leachman
  33. Tommy Lee Jones
  34. Melissa Leo
  35. Jack Lemmon†,◊
  36. Karl Malden
  37. Rami Malek
  38. Julianne Moore
  39. Paul Newman†,◊
  40. Lupita Nyong'o3,◊
  41. Laurence Olivier†,◊
  42. Geraldine Page†,◊
  43. Jack Palance
  44. Gwyneth Paltrow
  45. Cliff Robertson
  46. Eva Marie Saint
  47. George C. Scott†,◊
  48. Simone Signoret
  49. Meryl Streep
  50. Emma Thompson
  51. Claire Trevor
  52. Peter Ustinov†,◊
  53. Dianne Wiest
  54. Robin Williams
  55. Kate Winslet
  56. Shelley Winters
  57. Joanne Woodward
  58. Loretta Young

Notes

^1 Won an Emmy in a non-acting category.
^2 Nominated for an Emmy in a non-acting category.
^3 Won a Daytime Emmy.
^4 Won an International Emmy.
^5 Won a Tony in a non-acting category.

Three nominations

The following people have not won all three awards in competitive acting categories, but have received at least one nomination for each of them:

  1. Alan Alda
  2. Jane Alexander
  3. Joan Allen
  4. Judith Anderson
  5. Julie Andrews
  6. Alan Arkin
  7. Lauren Bacall
  8. Alec Baldwin
  9. Martin Balsam
  10. Antonio BanderasN/A
  11. Barbara BarrieN/A
  12. Kathy Bates
  13. Ed Begley
  14. Ralph Bellamy
  15. Annette BeningN/A
  16. Cate Blanchett
  17. Joan Blondell†,N/A
  18. Richard Burton
  19. Diahann Carroll
  20. Art Carney
  21. Stockard Channing
  22. Jessica Chastain
  23. Don Cheadle
  24. Patricia Clarkson
  25. Glenn Close
  26. James Coco
  27. Claudette Colbert
  28. Toni Collette
  29. Chris Cooper
  30. Gladys Cooper†,N/A
  31. Tom CourtenayN/A
  32. Bryan Cranston
  33. Hume Cronyn
  34. Judi Dench
  35. Colman Domingo
  36. Adam DriverN/A
  37. Charles Durning
  38. Cynthia Erivo
  39. José Ferrer
  40. Sally Field
  41. Ralph Fiennes
  42. Albert Finney
  43. Laurence Fishburne
  44. Henry Fonda
  45. Jane Fonda
  46. Morgan Freeman
  47. Vincent Gardenia
  48. Andrew Garfield
  49. John Gielgud
  50. Jack Gilford
  51. Jackie Gleason
  52. Ruth Gordon
  53. Joel Grey
  54. Alec Guinness
  55. Tom Hanks
  56. Marcia Gay Harden
  57. Ed HarrisN/A
  58. Julie Harris
  59. Rosemary Harris
  60. Eileen Heckart
  61. Brian Tyree HenryN/A
  62. Katharine Hepburn
  63. Judd Hirsch
  64. Dustin Hoffman
  65. Philip Seymour Hoffman
  66. Hal Holbrook
  67. Ian Holm
  68. Tom Hulce
  69. William Hurt
  70. Hugh Jackman
  71. Allison Janney
  72. James Earl Jones
  73. Madeline Kahn
  74. Diane Keaton
  75. Anna KendrickN/A
  76. Kevin Kline
  77. Shirley Knight
  78. Angela Lansbury
  79. Eva Le Gallienne
  80. Margaret Leighton
  81. Jack Lemmon
  82. Laura Linney
  83. John Lithgow
  84. Alfred Lunt
  85. Walter Matthau
  86. Ian McKellen
  87. Janet McTeer
  88. Laurie Metcalf
  89. Bette Midler
  90. Paul Muni
  91. Mildred Natwick
  92. Patricia Neal
  93. Ruth NeggaN/A
  94. Kate NelliganN/A
  95. Paul Newman
  96. Lupita Nyong'o
  97. Leslie Odom Jr.
  98. Sophie Okonedo
  99. Laurence Olivier
  100. Geraldine Page
  101. Joan Plowright
  102. Sidney Poitier
  103. Jonathan Pryce
  104. Anthony Quayle
  105. Anthony Quinn
  106. Stephen ReaN/A
  107. Lynn Redgrave†,N/A
  108. Debbie Reynolds†,N/A
  109. Beah Richards
  110. Thelma Ritter
  111. Sam Rockwell
  112. Mickey Rooney
  113. Mark Ruffalo
  114. Mark Rylance
  115. George C. Scott
  116. Michael ShannonN/A
  117. Gary Sinise
  118. Kevin Spacey
  119. Kim Stanley
  120. Beatrice Straight
  121. Meryl Streep
  122. Lily Tomlin
  123. Rip Torn
  124. Cicely Tyson
  125. Stanley Tucci
  126. Peter Ustinov
  127. Christopher Walken
  128. Sam WaterstonN/A
  129. Sigourney WeaverN/A
  130. James Whitmore
  131. Michelle Williams
  132. Mare Winningham
  133. Jeffrey Wright

Notes

† – Person is deceased. N/A – Person has not won any of the three awards (excluding non-acting awards and non-competitive awards).

British Triple Crown

The British entertainment industry has a Triple Crown of its own, consisting of the BAFTA Film Award, the BAFTA Television Award, and the Laurence Olivier Award. Eight actors have completed the British Triple Crown: Judi Dench, Virginia McKenna, Peggy Ashcroft, Nigel Hawthorne, Julie Walters, Albert Finney, Helen Mirren, and Mark Rylance. Only Mirren has completed both the American and British Triple Crowns.

Other actors have won all of the awards, but not in competitive acting categories. Anthony Hopkins has BAFTAs in both categories but only an Olivier Award for "Outstanding Achievement" (he was nominated as Best Actor for the same show, but lost). Maggie Smith has several Film BAFTAs but only non-competitive awards for BAFTA Television and Olivier. There had been confusion about whether or not Ashcroft qualifies for the British Triple Crown in competitive categories because her winning the Actress of the Year in a New Play Olivier Award for Old World in the inaugural year of the Olivier Awards in 1976 had been overlooked.

Other winners include actors Alan Bennett and Kenneth Branagh, but some of their awards weren't in acting categories.

Summary

Actor Completed Years to
complete
BAFTA Film BAFTA TV Olivier Total
wins
Ref.
Judi Dench 1977 12 1966 1968 1977 17
Virginia McKenna 1979 24 1957 1955 1979 3
Peggy Ashcroft 1986 10 1986 1981 1976 4
Nigel Hawthorne 1996 14 1996 1981 1992 7
Julie Walters 2002 18 1984 2002 2001 7
Albert Finney 2003 43 1961 2003 1986 3
Helen Mirren 2013 21 2007 1992 2013 5
Mark Rylance 2015 21 2016 2006 1994 5

Judi Dench

English actress Judi Dench (born 1934) completed the triple crown in 1977, becoming the first person to complete the British triple crown. She completed her second triple crown in 1986, her third triple crown in 1988, and her fourth in 2001. She is a 12-time BAFTA TV (4), 15-time BAFTA Film (6), and 15-time Olivier (7) nominee, for a total of 42 TC nominations. Dench has won seventeen awards.

  1. 1966: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film RolesFour in the Morning
  2. 1987: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleA Room with a View
  3. 1989: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – A Handful of Dust
  4. 1998: Best Actress in a Leading RoleMrs Brown
  5. 1999: Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Shakespeare in Love
  6. 2002: Best Actress in a Leading Role – Iris
  1. 1968: Best ActressTalking to a Stranger
  2. 1982: Best Actress – Going Gently, A Fine Romance (Series 1), and The Cherry Orchard
  3. 1985: Best Light Entertainment PerformanceA Fine Romance (Series 4)
  4. 2001: Best Actress – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
  1. 1977: Actress of the Year in a RevivalMacbeth
  2. 1980: Actress of the Year in a Revival – Juno and the Paycock
  3. 1983: Actress of the Year in a New PlayPack of Lies
  4. 1987: Best ActressAntony and Cleopatra
  5. 1996: Best Actress – Absolute Hell
  6. 1996: Best Actress in a MusicalA Little Night Music
  7. 2016: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleThe Winter's Tale

Note: Dench is the only actor to complete multiple triple crowns of acting, on either the American or British side, and has completed four. She is the only person to have won more than 7 triple crown awards, on either the British or American side. She also holds the records (though tied) for most BAFTA TV nominations, most BAFTA Film nominations, and most BAFTA Film awards; Dench has also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love and a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play in 1999 for Amy's View, but has yet to win an Emmy Award (after three nominations) to complete the American triple crown.

Virginia McKenna

British stage and screen actress, author, animal rights activist, and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna (born 1931) completed the triple crown in 1979. McKenna has won three awards.

  1. 1957: Best British ActressA Town Like Alice
  1. 1955: Best Actress
  1. 1979: Best Actress in a MusicalThe King and I

Peggy Ashcroft

English actress Peggy Ashcroft (1907–1991) completed the triple crown in 1986. She won one competitive Olivier Award, two BAFTA TV Awards and one BAFTA Film Award. Ashcroft won four awards over a period of ten years.

  1. 1986: Best Actress in a Leading RoleA Passage to India
  1. 1981: Best ActressCream in My Coffee and Caught on a Train
  2. 1985: Best Actress – The Jewel in the Crown
  1. 1976: Actress of the Year in a New PlayOld World

Note: Ashcroft won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1985 for A Passage to India (a year before winning the BAFTA Film Award).

Nigel Hawthorne

English actor Nigel Hawthorne (1929–2001) completed the triple crown in 1995. He is a 5-time BAFTA TV (5), 1-time BAFTA Film (1), and 2-time Olivier (1) nominee, for a total of 8 TC nominations. Hawthorne has won seven awards.

  1. 1996: Best Actor in a Leading RoleThe Madness of King George
  1. 1982: Best Light Entertainment PerformanceYes Minister
  2. 1983: Best Light Entertainment Performance – Yes Minister
  3. 1987: Best Light Entertainment Performance – Yes, Prime Minister
  4. 1997: Best ActorThe Fragile Heart
  1. 1977: Best Actor in a Supporting RolePrivates on Parade
  2. 1992: Best ActorThe Madness of George III

Note: Hawthorne has also been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1995 for The Madness of King George and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play in 1991 for Shadowlands, but he never won or was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Julie Walters

English actress Julie Walters (born 1950) completed the triple crown in 2002. She is a 7-time BAFTA TV (4), 6-time BAFTA Film (2), and 2-time Olivier (1) nominee, for a total of 11 TC nominations. Walters has won seven awards. It took her eighteen years to complete the British Triple Crown.

  1. 1984: Best Actress in a Leading RoleEducating Rita
  2. 2001: Best Actress in a Supporting RoleBilly Elliot
  1. 2002: Best Actress – My Beautiful Son
  2. 2003: Best Actress – Murder
  3. 2004: Best Actress – The Canterbury Tales
  4. 2010: Best Actress – Mo
  1. 2001: Best ActressAll My Sons

Note: Walters has also received an honorary BAFTA in 2003 and the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award in 2014. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1984 for Educating Rita and a second nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2001 for Billy Elliot. She is the recipient of two International Emmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actress.

Albert Finney

English actor Albert Finney (1936–2019) completed the triple crown in 2003. He is a 4-time BAFTA TV (1), 9-time BAFTA Film (1), and 2-time Olivier (1) nominee, for a total of 15 TC nominations. Finney has won three awards.

  1. 1961: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film RolesSaturday Night and Sunday Morning
  1. 2003: Best ActorThe Gathering Storm
  1. 1986: Best ActorOrphans

Note: Finney has also won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2003 for The Gathering Storm and won two Tony Awards, but never won an Academy Award (after 5 nominations) to complete the American triple crown.

Helen Mirren

English actor Helen Mirren (born 1945) completed the triple crown in 2013. She is a 6-time BAFTA TV (3), 5-time BAFTA Film (1), and 4-time Olivier (1) nominee, for a total of 15 TC nominations. Mirren has won five awards. It took her twenty-one years to complete the British Triple Crown.

  1. 2007: Best Actress in a Leading RoleThe Queen
  1. 1991: Best ActressPrime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness
  2. 1992: Best Actress – Prime Suspect 2
  3. 1993: Best Actress – Prime Suspect 3
  1. 2013: Best ActressThe Audience

Note: Mirren is the only person to have also won the American Triple Crown of Acting by being awarded the three equivalent honors in the American entertainment industry: an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.

Mark Rylance

British actor, playwright and theatre director Mark Rylance (born 1960) completed the triple crown in 2015. He is a 2-time BAFTA TV (2), 1-time BAFTA Film (1), and 8-time Olivier (2) nominee, for a total of 11 TC nominations. Rylance has won five awards.

  1. 2016: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleBridge of Spies
  1. 2006: Best ActorThe Government Inspector
  2. 2016: Best Leading ActorWolf Hall
  1. 1994: Best ActorMuch Ado About Nothing
  2. 2010: Best Actor – Jerusalem

Note: Rylance has also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for Bridge of Spies and won three Tony Awards, but has yet to win an Emmy Award (after one nomination) to complete the American triple crown.

See also

References

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