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.[1] 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.[citation needed] 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 [2]
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 [3]
Jeremy Irons 1997 13 1991 1997 1984 4 [4]
Anne Bancroft 1999 41 1963 1999 1958 4 [5]
Vanessa Redgrave 2003 25 1978 1981 2003 4 [6]
Maggie Smith 2003 33 1970 2003 1990 7 [7]
Al Pacino 2004 35 1993 2004 1969 5 [8]
Geoffrey Rush 2009 12 1997 2005 2009 3 [9]
Ellen Burstyn 2009 34 1975 2009 1975 4 [10]
Christopher Plummer 2011 38 2012 1977 1974 5 [11]
Helen Mirren 2015 19 2007 1996 2015 6 [12]
Frances McDormand 2015 18 1997 2015 2011 5 [13]
Jessica Lange 2016 33 1983 2009 2016 6 [14]
Viola Davis 2017 16 2017 2015 2001 4 [15]
Glenda Jackson 2018 47 1971 1972 2018 6 [16]

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 the EGOT.

  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 RoleMale 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. Her Emmy win saw her complete the EGOT for competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony wins. Her Grammy win was in 1973 in the Best Recording for Children category. Moreno is the first Hispanic actor to win the Triple Crown and is one of only three Triple Crown winners who have also achieved the EGOT.

  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
  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 DramaAmong 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 PlayThe 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 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 triple crown 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 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 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 SeriesDownton 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 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 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 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

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.

  1. 2012: Best Actor in a Supporting RoleBeginners
  1. 1977: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited SeriesThe Moneychangers
  2. 1994: Outstanding Voice-Over PerformanceMadeline
  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 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 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 1-time Tony (1) nominee, for a total of 17 TC nominations. Lange has won six 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.[17] She is the first African American person to win the triple crown, and is also currently the youngest.[17][18] 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 awards. Davis is also one of only three Triple Crown winners who have also achieved the EGOT, winning the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording in 2023.

  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 SeriesElizabeth 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.[19]

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. David Burns
  10. Stockard Channing
  11. Kristin Chenoweth
  12. Glenn Close
  13. Jodie Comer
  14. James Corden
  15. Bryan Cranston
  16. Hume Cronyn,
  17. Billy Crudup
  18. Tyne Daly
  19. Blythe Danner
  20. André De Shields
  21. Colleen Dewhurst
  22. Stephen Dillane4
  23. Nanette Fabray
  24. Laurence Fishburne
  25. Ed Flanders
  26. Helen Gallagher3
  27. Vincent Gardenia,
  28. George Grizzard
  29. Julie Harris,
  30. Neil Patrick Harris
  31. Rosemary Harris
  32. Sean Hayes
  33. George Hearn
  34. Edward Herrmann
  35. Gregory Hines3
  36. Judd Hirsch
  37. Hal Holbrook ,
  38. Ken Howard
  39. Hugh Jackman
  40. Derek Jacobi
  41. Michael Jeter
  42. Cherry Jones
  43. James Earl Jones NCA
  44. Madeline Kahn3 ,
  45. Shirley Knight,
  46. Richard Kiley
  47. Swoosie Kurtz
  48. Nathan Lane
  49. Anthony LaPaglia
  50. John Larroquette
  51. Ron Leibman
  52. Margaret Leighton,
  53. Judith Light
  54. John Lithgow
  55. Cleavon Little
  56. Mary Martin
  57. Roddy McDowall
  58. Laurie Metcalf
  59. Bette Midler
  60. Debra Monk
  61. Michael Moriarty
  62. Robert Morse
  63. Donna Murphy3
  64. Bebe Neuwirth
  65. Cynthia Nixon
  66. Mary-Louise Parker
  67. Mandy Patinkin
  68. David Hyde Pierce
  69. Amanda Plummer
  70. Billy Porter
  71. Diana Rigg
  72. Tony Shalhoub
  73. Phil Silvers
  74. Lily Tomlin
  75. Cicely Tyson , , NCA
  76. Dick Van Dyke
  77. Courtney B. Vance
  78. Eli Wallach , NCA
  79. 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. Art Carney,
  7. Olivia Colman
  8. Bette Davis
  9. Laura Dern
  10. Michael Douglas
  11. Patty Duke
  12. Faye Dunaway
  13. Robert Duvall
  14. Sally Field
  15. Jane Fonda
  16. John Gielgud5 ,,NCA
  17. Ruth Gordon,
  18. Louis Gossett Jr.
  19. Lee Grant
  20. Anne Hathaway
  21. Eileen Heckart,,NCA
  22. Katharine Hepburn,
  23. Dustin Hoffman
  24. William Holden
  25. Anthony Hopkins
  26. Helen Hunt
  27. Holly Hunter
  28. Allison Janney
  29. Nicole Kidman
  30. Regina King
  31. Cloris Leachman
  32. Tommy Lee Jones
  33. Melissa Leo
  34. Jack Lemmon,
  35. Karl Malden
  36. Rami Malek
  37. Julianne Moore
  38. Paul Newman,
  39. Lupita Nyong'o3,
  40. Laurence Olivier,
  41. Geraldine Page,
  42. Jack Palance
  43. Gwyneth Paltrow
  44. Cliff Robertson
  45. Eva Marie Saint
  46. George C. Scott,
  47. Simone Signoret
  48. Meryl Streep
  49. Emma Thompson
  50. Claire Trevor
  51. Peter Ustinov,
  52. Dianne Wiest
  53. Robin Williams
  54. Kate Winslet
  55. Shelley Winters
  56. Joanne Woodward
  57. 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 Barrie
  12. Kathy Bates
  13. Ed Begley
  14. Ralph Bellamy
  15. Annette BeningN/A
  16. Cate Blanchett
  17. Richard Burton
  18. Diahann Carroll
  19. Art Carney
  20. Stockard Channing
  21. Jessica Chastain
  22. Don Cheadle
  23. Patricia Clarkson
  24. Glenn Close
  25. James Coco
  26. Claudette Colbert
  27. Toni Collette
  28. Chris Cooper
  29. Gladys Cooper,N/A
  30. Tom CourtenayN/A
  31. Bryan Cranston
  32. Hume Cronyn
  33. Judi Dench
  34. Colman Domingo
  35. Adam DriverN/A
  36. Charles Durning
  37. Cynthia Erivo
  38. José Ferrer
  39. Sally Field
  40. Ralph Fiennes
  41. Albert Finney
  42. Laurence Fishburne
  43. Henry Fonda
  44. Jane Fonda
  45. Morgan Freeman
  46. Vincent Gardenia
  47. Andrew Garfield
  48. John Gielgud
  49. Jack Gilford
  50. Jackie Gleason
  51. Ruth Gordon
  52. Joel Grey
  53. Alec Guinness
  54. Tom Hanks
  55. Marcia Gay Harden
  56. Ed HarrisN/A
  57. Julie Harris
  58. Rosemary Harris
  59. Eileen Heckart
  60. Brian Tyree HenryN/A
  61. Katharine Hepburn
  62. Judd Hirsch
  63. Dustin Hoffman
  64. Philip Seymour Hoffman
  65. Hal Holbrook
  66. Ian Holm
  67. Tom Hulce
  68. William Hurt
  69. Hugh Jackman
  70. Allison Janney
  71. James Earl Jones
  72. Madeline Kahn
  73. Diane Keaton
  74. Anna KendrickN/A
  75. Kevin Kline
  76. Shirley Knight
  77. Angela Lansbury
  78. Eva Le Gallienne
  79. Margaret Leighton
  80. Jack Lemmon
  81. Laura Linney
  82. John Lithgow
  83. Walter Matthau
  84. Ian McKellen
  85. Janet McTeer
  86. Laurie Metcalf
  87. Bette Midler
  88. Paul Muni
  89. Mildred Natwick
  90. Patricia Neal
  91. Ruth NeggaN/A
  92. Kate NelliganN/A
  93. Paul Newman
  94. Lupita Nyong'o
  95. Leslie Odom Jr.
  96. Sophie Okonedo
  97. Laurence Olivier
  98. Geraldine Page
  99. Joan Plowright
  100. Sidney Poitier
  101. Jonathan Pryce
  102. Anthony Quayle
  103. Anthony Quinn
  104. Stephen ReaN/A
  105. Lynn Redgrave,N/A
  106. Debbie Reynolds,N/A
  107. Beah Richards
  108. Thelma Ritter
  109. Sam Rockwell
  110. Mickey Rooney
  111. Mark Ruffalo
  112. Mark Rylance
  113. George C. Scott
  114. Michael ShannonN/A
  115. Gary Sinise
  116. Kevin Spacey
  117. Kim Stanley
  118. Beatrice Straight
  119. Meryl Streep
  120. Lily Tomlin
  121. Rip Torn
  122. Cicely Tyson
  123. Stanley Tucci
  124. Peter Ustinov
  125. Christopher Walken
  126. Sam WaterstonN/A
  127. Sigourney WeaverN/A
  128. James Whitmore
  129. Michelle Williams
  130. Mare Winningham
  131. 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

Main article: Triple Crown (UK entertainment)

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 [20]
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 ActressMy 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

  1. ^ Strachan, Maxwell (27 February 2017). "Viola Davis Becomes First Black Woman to Win an Oscar, Emmy and Tony for Acting". The Huffington Post.
  2. ^ "Thomas Mitchell". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Clark, Kenneth R. (December 9, 1991). "Jessica Tandy feels comfortable in the role of 'The Story Lady'". The Baltimore Sun. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "Actor Jeremy Irons". Tavis Smiley. September 7, 2012. PBS. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "Anne Bancroft obituary". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. June 5, 2005. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Vanessa Redgrave". Encyclopædia Britannica. November 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Dame Maggie Smith". Encyclopædia Britannica. March 5, 2015. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "Tour dates". An Evening with Pacino. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "Geoffrey Rush is named Australian of the year". BBC News. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2018-11-23. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  10. ^ "The inside track on Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and All the Award Shows". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  11. ^ White, Carly (July 7, 2014). "The Triple Crown at the Tonys". New York Show Tickets. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Brenoff, Ann (July 25, 2015). "7 reasons to love Helen Mirren on her 70th birthday". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Frances McDormand". Breaking News. January 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  14. ^ Sheehan, Paul; Robert Pius (July 3, 2017). "Jessica Lange:Emmy win would tie her for first among triple crown acting champs". Gold Derby. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  15. ^ Levine, Nick (February 27, 2017). "Viola Davis makes history by winning the "triple crown of acting"". NME. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  16. ^ Lambe, Stacy (June 10, 2018). "Glenda Jackson wins Triple Crown of Acting". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Zak, Dan (February 27, 2017). "Only 22 people had ever accomplished this feat. Now, Viola Davis joins the club". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2017-03-01. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  18. ^ Mizoguchi, Karen. "SAG Awards 2017: Viola Davis Becomes First African American Actress to Score 5 Wins". People. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  19. ^ "Triple Crown of Acting watch – who can join next?". Gold Derby. April 9, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  20. ^ Appelo, Tim (December 6, 2017). "Helen Mirren: AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Winner". AARP. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.