The "triple crown of acting" is a term used in the American entertainment industry to describe performers who have won an Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award in 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 of acting".
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
Actor Completed Years tocomplete Oscar Emmy Tony Totalwins 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" achievements Ordered by date of achieving the triple crown. Helen Hayes
The American actress Helen Hayes (1900–1993) was the first performer to achieve the triple crown of acting, doing so in 1953. Hayes was a nine-time Emmy, three-time Tony, and two-time Oscar nominee, for a total of 14 triple crown (TC) nominations. She won two Oscars, two Tonys and an Emmy for a total of five competitive TC 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
The American actor and writer Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962) completed the triple crown in 1953, two months after Helen Hayes. He was a three-time Emmy, two-time Oscar, and one-time Tony 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
The Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) completed the triple crown in 1960 and was the youngest to achieve it. She was a seven-time Oscar, three-time Emmy, and one-time Tony 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 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
The American actress Shirley Booth (1898–1992) completed the triple crown in 1962. She was a four-time Emmy, three-time Tony, and one-time Oscar 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
The American actor Melvyn Douglas (1901–1981) completed the triple crown in 1968. He was a three-time Oscar, two-time Emmy, and one-time Tony 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
Tony Awards: 1960: Best Leading Actor in a Play – The Best Man
Paul Scofield
The English actor Paul Scofield (1922–2008) completed the triple crown in 1969. He was a two-time Oscar, one-time Emmy, and one-time Tony nominee, for a total of four TC nominations. Scofield won three awards over a span of seven years, making him the fastest TC 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
The American actor, comedian, dancer and singer Jack Albertson (1907–1981) completed the triple crown in 1975. He was a five-time Emmy, two-time Tony, and one-time Oscar 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
The Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer Rita Moreno (born 1931) completed the triple crown in 1977. She is a six-time Emmy, one-time Oscar, and one-time Tony nominee, for a total of eight TC nominations. Moreno has won 4 TC qualifying awards. She is the first Hispanic actor to achieve 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 1978: Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Comedy or Drama Series – The Rockford Files
Tony Awards: 1975: Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – The Ritz
Maureen Stapleton
The American actress Maureen Stapleton (1925–2006) completed the triple crown in 1982. She was a seven-time Emmy, six-time Tony, and four-time Oscar 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
The American actor Jason Robards (1922–2000) completed the triple crown in 1988. He was an eight-time Tony, five-time Emmy, and three-time Oscar 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
The British-American actress Jessica Tandy (1909–1994) completed the triple crown in 1990. She was a five-time Tony, three-time Emmy, and two-time Oscar nominee, 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
The English actor and activist Jeremy Irons (born 1948) completed the triple crown in 1997. He is a three-time Emmy, one-time Oscar, and one-time Tony nominee, for a total of five TC nominations. Irons has won four TC 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
Anne Bancroft
The American actress Anne Bancroft (1931–2005) completed the triple crown in 1999. She was a six-time Emmy, five-time Oscar, and three-time Tony 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
Vanessa Redgrave
The English actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937) completed the triple crown in 2003. She is a six-time Oscar, six-time Emmy, and three-time Tony 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
The English actress Maggie Smith (1934–2024) completed the triple crown in 2003. She was a nine-time Emmy, six-time Oscar, and three-time Tony nominee, for a total of 18 TC nominations. Smith was the first and only triple crown winner to win seven TC 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