Triple Crown of Acting

Triple Crown of Acting

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 "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 of Acting

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

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. Hayes also won a Grammy in (/wiki/19thAnnualGrammyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/5thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Sin of Madelon Claudet • (/wiki/43rdAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Airport

• (/wiki/5thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Best Actress

• (/wiki/1stTonyAwards): Best Actress in a Play – Happy Birthday • (/wiki/12thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/12thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Stagecoach

• (/wiki/5thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Best Actor

• (/wiki/7thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/17thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Gaslight • (/wiki/29thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Anastasia • (/wiki/47thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Murder on the Orient Express

• (/wiki/12thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress (Lead or Support) – Startime (Episode: "The Turn of the Screw") • (/wiki/34thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – A Woman Called Golda

• (/wiki/1stTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/25thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Come Back, Little Sheba

• (/wiki/14thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) – Hazel • (/wiki/15thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) – Hazel

• (/wiki/3rdTonyAwards): Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – Goodbye, My Fancy • (/wiki/4thTonyAwards): Best Actress in a Play – Come Back, Little Sheba • (/wiki/7thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/36thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Hud • (/wiki/52ndAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Being There

• (/wiki/20thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama – CBS Playhouse (Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night")

• (/wiki/14thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/39thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Leading Role – A Man for All Seasons

• (/wiki/21stPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Male of the Species

• (/wiki/16thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/41stAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – The Subject Was Roses

• (/wiki/27thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music – Cher • (/wiki/28thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Chico and the Man

• (/wiki/19thTonyAwards): Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play – The 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. She is the first Hispanic actor to win the Triple Crown. Moreno also won a Grammy in (/wiki/15thAnnualGrammyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/34thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – West Side Story

• (/wiki/29thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music – The Muppet Show (Episode: "Rita Moreno") • (/wiki/30thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Comedy or Drama Series – The Rockford Files (Episode: "The Paper Palace")

• (/wiki/29thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/54thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Reds

• (/wiki/20thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama – Among the Paths to Eden

• (/wiki/5thTonyAwards): Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – The Rose Tattoo • (/wiki/25thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/49thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – All the President's Men • (/wiki/50thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Julia

• (/wiki/40thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special – Inherit the Wind

• (/wiki/13thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/62ndAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Driving Miss Daisy

• (/wiki/40thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special – Foxfire

• (/wiki/1stTonyAwards): Best Actress in a Play – A Streetcar Named Desire • (/wiki/32ndTonyAwards): Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Gin Game • (/wiki/37thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/63rdAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Leading Role – Reversal of Fortune

• (/wiki/49thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Voice-Over Performance – The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century • (/wiki/58thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – Elizabeth I

• (/wiki/38thTonyAwards): 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 (/wiki/66thPrimetimeCreativeArtsEmmyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/35thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Miracle Worker

• (/wiki/51stPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Deep in My Heart

• (/wiki/12thTonyAwards): Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play – Two for the Seesaw • (/wiki/14thTonyAwards): Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Miracle Worker

Note: Bancroft won an additional Emmy in (/wiki/22ndPrimetimeEmmyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/50thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Julia

• (/wiki/33rdPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special – Playing for Time • (/wiki/52ndPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – If These Walls Could Talk 2

• (/wiki/57thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/42ndAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie • (/wiki/51stAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – California Suite

• (/wiki/55thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – My House in Umbria • (/wiki/63rdPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Downton Abbey • (/wiki/64thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey • (/wiki/68thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Downton Abbey

• (/wiki/44thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/65thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Leading Role – Scent of a Woman

• (/wiki/56thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – Angels in America • (/wiki/62ndPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – You Don't Know Jack

• (/wiki/23rdTonyAwards): Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play – Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? • (/wiki/31stTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/69thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Leading Role – Shine

• (/wiki/57thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie – The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

• (/wiki/63rdTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/47thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

• (/wiki/61stPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Episode: "Swing") • (/wiki/65thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Political Animals

• (/wiki/29thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/84thAcademyAwards): Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Beginners

• (/wiki/29thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series – The Moneychangers • (/wiki/46thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Voice-Over Performance – Madeline

• (/wiki/28thTonyAwards): Best Leading Actor in a Musical – Cyrano • (/wiki/51stTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/79thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – The Queen

• (/wiki/48thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special – Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness • (/wiki/51stPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – The Passion of Ayn Rand • (/wiki/58thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Elizabeth I • (/wiki/59thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Prime Suspect: The Final Act

• (/wiki/69thTonyAwards): Best Leading Actress in a Play – The Audience

Note: Mirren has an additional Emmy win in a non-acting category, winning the Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Host in (/wiki/1stChildren'sandFamilyEmmyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/69thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Fargo • (/wiki/90thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri • (/wiki/93rdAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Nomadland

• (/wiki/67thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie – Olive Kitteridge

• (/wiki/65thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/55thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tootsie • (/wiki/67thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Blue Sky

• (/wiki/61stPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Grey Gardens • (/wiki/64thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – American Horror Story: Murder House • (/wiki/66thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – American Horror Story: Coven

• (/wiki/70thTonyAwards): 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 (/wiki/65thAnnualGrammyAwards) 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.

• (/wiki/89thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Fences

• (/wiki/67thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – How to Get Away with Murder

• (/wiki/55thTonyAwards): Best Featured Actress in a Play – King Hedley II • (/wiki/64thTonyAwards): 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.

• (/wiki/43rdAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – Women in Love • (/wiki/46thAcademyAwards): Best Actress in a Leading Role – A Touch of Class

• (/wiki/24thPrimetimeEmmyAwards): 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

• (/wiki/48thInternationalEmmyAwards): Best Performance by an Actress – Elizabeth Is Missing

• (/wiki/72ndTonyAwards): Best Leading Actress in a Play – Three Tall Women

Two competitive awards

Triple Crown of Acting

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

Three nominations

Triple Crown of Acting

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