Across The Decades
Awards in Hollywood give performers an artistic legacy, critical acclaim, and industry respect. Some actors became icons for a single role, while others scooped up an armload of these accolades across long careers. From the Oscars to Emmys and Tonys, these actors hold the records for most wins, most nominations, and consistency of performance excellence across decades.
Katharine Hepburn
No one did better than Katharine Hepburn when it comes to Oscars—she took home four Academy Awards for Best Actress, a record to this day. Her victories came across decades, from Morning Glory (1933) to On Golden Pond (1981). Hepburn’s fiery independence was a major source of her achievements, making her a critical and cultural icon.
Universal Pictures, On Golden Pond (1981)
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis holds the record for most Oscars for Best Actor, with three wins for My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012). With his reputation for intense method acting, Day-Lewis was also very selective about what roles he chose. His awards legacy remains unmatched among male actors, attesting to his extraordinary dedication to the craft. Day-Lewis emerged from retirement to star in Anemone, scheduled for release later in 2025.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Lincoln (2012)
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson boasts three Oscars, tying him with Meryl Streep among actors with the most. His wins came for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983), and As Good As It Gets (1997). Known for his force of personality, Nicholson’s consistent nominations show he blended artistry with mainstream popularity.
Paramount Pictures, Terms of Endearment (1983)
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep has three Academy Awards and an astounding 21 nominations, more than any other actor or actress. Her versatility has earned her acclaim across genres, from Sophie’s Choice (1982) to The Iron Lady (2011). While she hasn’t broken Hepburn’s record, Streep’s breadth of recognition reflects both her craft and staying power in Hollywood.
20th Century Fox, The Iron Lady (2011)
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman won three Oscars, tied with Streep and Nicholson. Her wins came for Gaslight (1944), Anastasia (1956), and Murder on the Orient Express (1974). Bergman’s career had a slightly different trajectory than most, as scandal briefly eclipsed her reputation, but she made a resounding comeback.
EMI Films, Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand stands tall with four Oscars: three for Best Actress (Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Nomadland (2020)) and one for producing Nomadland, which won Best Picture. Her no-frills style and refusal to conform to Hollywood glitz and glamor expectations make her wins even more distinctive.
Searchlight Pictures, Nomadland (2020)
Bette Davis
Bette Davis won two Oscars, but her real claim to fame is her 10 nominations, making her one of the most honored women in Academy history. Known for her sharp wit and intense performances, Davis sought out challenging roles. Her career helped to redefine what women could achieve in Hollywood cinema.
Trailer screenshot Licencing Wikimedia Commons
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan holds a record rarely matched: three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor. His wins came early on in the Academy’s history. Brennan wasn’t a leading man in the traditional sense, but his versatility in westerns and dramas made him one of the movies’ most reliable supporting cast members.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
Meryl Streep’s Nominations
Beyond her three wins, Streep’s 21 Oscar nominations remain unmatched. Her ability to transform into characters from different eras, from Margaret Thatcher to Miranda Priestly, has kept her at the center of critical acclaim. Wins mean a great deal, but Streep’s amazing number of nominations spotlight her consistency as perhaps Hollywood’s greatest performer.
www.GlynLowe.com from Hamburg, Germany, Wikimedia Commons
Don Knotts
Don Knotts is unique in Emmy history: he won five awards for his legendary portrayal of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, and he did it with five nominations, a perfect 5/5 record. Knotts’ clean sweep underscores not just his popularity, but the judges' recognition of his comedic genius.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman claimed eight Primetime Emmys, making her one of the most decorated television actresses. Her roles ranged from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Malcolm in the Middle. Leachman’s versatility in different comedic and dramatic roles was proof of her wide-ranging talent through decades of TV history.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has 11 Emmy wins, the most by any performer in acting categories. From Seinfeld to Veep, Julia has shown staying power, consistency, and comedic timing across multiple shows. Her record is a great reflection of TV’s evolution, in which performers can redefine themselves across eras.
Mingle Media TV, Wikimedia Commons
Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald leads Tony Awards history with six wins, the most by any actor. Like the other members of this list, her performances span categories, from plays to musicals, and roles that demand vocal delivery and acting brilliance. McDonald’s dominance on Broadway shows her ability to create an absorbing performance for live audiences and critics.
Office of the President, Wikimedia Commons
Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury earned five Tony Awards, tied for second place all-time. Her roles in productions like Mame (1966) and Sweeney Todd (1979) made her a Broadway icon. Combined with her long television career on Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury’s Tony recognition highlighted her ability to command both stage and screen with grace.
Universal Television, Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
Julie Harris
Julie Harris won five Tony Awards as well, tying her with Lansbury. Known for her versatility in dramatic and comedic roles, Harris’ career spanned more than 50 years. Her multiple Tony victories and strong performances made her one of stage’s most respected figures.
Peter O’Toole
Peter O’Toole holds a record for futility: he was nominated for eight Oscars but never won one. He is still revered for his performances in classics like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), but the Academy passed him over every time. In 2003, he accepted an honorary Oscar in recognition of his brilliant career.
Glenn Close
Glenn Close had a similar unlucky track record to O’Toole, earning eight unsuccessful Oscar nominations. She had acclaimed roles in Fatal Attraction (1987), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and The Wife (2017) to name just a few. Close’s career is proof that nominations can still signal greatness even without gaining the final prize.
Sony Pictures Classics, The Wife (2017)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is the poster child for delayed recognition. After multiple nominations across decades, he finally won for The Revenant in 2016. His years of near-misses, including The Aviator (2004), Blood Diamond (2006), Wolf of Wall Street (2013) highlighted how Hollywood sometimes holds back its highest prize, only to eventually honor continued persistence.
Paramount Pictures, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Al Pacino
Al Pacino made a long climb to victory for his lone Oscar win for Scent of a Woman in 1992. Nominated multiple times for The Godfather trilogy and Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Pacino shows how even great actors can be repeatedly overlooked. He’s had a long string of nominations over the years, which makes his eventual victory a great story in itself.
Universal Pictures, Scent of a Woman (1992)
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington has two Academy Awards and 10 nominations, placing him among the most recognized actors of all time. His wins for Glory (1989) and Training Day (2001) showed his ability in both supporting and leading roles. Washington’s balance of critical acclaim and box office power puts him firmly among cinema’s greatest.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Training Day (2001)
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith has two Oscars: a Best Actress in 1969’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and a Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978). Her awards story spans television and stage as well. With Emmys for Downton Abbey and Tonys for stage work, Smith is one of those actresses who has conquered multiple mediums. Her list of awards is impressive, but her influence as a performer is legendary.
Focus Features, Downton Abbey (2010–2015; 2019)
Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes was often called the “First Lady of American Theatre”. She won two Oscars, a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy, making her an early EGOT winner. Her career spanned almost 80 years, a remarkable display of staying power.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis also reached EGOT status, joining Hayes among those rare performers to claim all four major awards. She won an Oscar for Fences (2016), an Emmy for How to Get Away with Murder, and two Tony Awards for Broadway triumphs. Davis’ honors reflect her tremendous range and cultural impact.
ABC Studios, How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy earned two Oscars for Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938), along with nine nominations overall. Tracy’s long career was a model of consistency and artistry, making him one of the Academy’s earliest and most enduring stars.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (work for hire), Wikimedia Commons
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando won two Oscars: for On the Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1972). His eight total nominations spanned a career that reshaped acting through the use of method techniques.
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon captured two Academy Awards: for Mister Roberts (1955); and Save the Tiger (1973). He earned eight nominations overall. Admired for his everyman charm and versatility, Lemmon moved seamlessly between comedies and dramas. His talent for humanizing flawed characters made him a critical and audience favorite.
Warner Bros. Pictures, Mister Roberts (1955)
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro won Oscars for The Godfather Part II (1974) and Raging Bull (1980), with eight acting nominations overall. From gangster epics to tender dramas, De Niro epitomized method acting intensity.
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett has two Oscar wins: for The Aviator (2004) in which she played Katherine Hepburn; and Blue Jasmine (2013). Her ability to completely immerse herself into roles, whether portraying Queen Elizabeth I or a Marvel villain, has kept her busy at awards season for decades.
Sony Pictures Classics, Blue Jasmine (2013)
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