The Academy Awards have been running for almost a century. Nonetheless, believe it or not, some Oscar wins and nominations are still unexpected and groundbreaking.Lily Gladstonewas deservedly recognized for her talents inMartin Scorsese’sThe Killers of the Flower Moon, which earned her a well-deserved nom for Best Actress just this year. With that said, Gladstone is the first Native American actor born in the United States and only the second Indigenous person to ever receive an Oscar nomination.
Although the future is looking bright and more diverse,we look back at the Oscar trailblazers who paved the way for many actors in the industry, whether this means being the oldest or youngest actor to ever win an Academy Award or being the first deaf person to take the grand prize home. FromMeryl StreeptoHattie McDaniel, these areten of the talented actors that have helped shape Oscars history.
Meryl Streep
The most Oscar-nominated actor
At this point, it’s impossible not to have at least heard about the iconic Meryl Streep. Known for her work in acclaimed films likeSophie’s Choiceand lighthearted comedies such asMamma Mia, Streep has conquered the hearts of many with her undeniable talents over the years.
The actor’s versatility and adaptability make this tour de force star one of the most talented of her generation. The fact thatStreep is the most Oscar-nominated actor in historyhighlights that. ThroughoutStreep’s incredible career, which has spanned almost fifty years and seventy-five films, the chameleon actor has been honored with Oscar nods an impressive 21 times. Streep’s record is followed byJackNicholson, who has received the most nominations for a male actor, with 12 noms under his belt.
Katherine Hepburn
The actor with the most Oscars
While Streep holds the record for the actor with the most Oscar nominations,Katharine Hepburn takes home the crown for the most Oscar wins in history. An iconic role model who is an inspiration for women all around the globe — particularly in the film biz — all these years later, Hepburn has surely helped shape cinema and paved the way for other talented actresses.
Like Nicholson, Hepburn was nominated 12 times. She ultimately went on to win four of those nominations (all in the Best Leading Actress category, which is quite impressive) for her work inMorning Glory,Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,The Lion in Winter, andOn Golden Pond. TheOscar-winning Golden Age starwas an iconic personality in the industry, presenting herself as an independent and educated woman almost every time she was on-screen.
Anthony Hopkins
The oldest actor to win an Oscar
Age is just a number on many occasions, and when it comes to showcasing your triumphant acting skills, it is no different; the classically trained actorSirAnthony Hopkins, who had previously earned an Academy Award in 1992 for his superb acting inThe Silence of the Lambs(one of his most iconic roles), is a great example of this. His determination and preparation for roles are unmatched.
While severalolder actors have been distinguished with Academy Awardsthanks to their amazing efforts and expertise in movies,Anthony Hopkins is, at the age of 83, the oldest actor to win an Oscar, thanks to his distinguished performance inThe Father. This record was once set byChristopher Plummer,who was recognized for his work inBeginnersat 82.
The Father
Rent on Apple TV
Tatum O’Neal
The youngest person to win an Oscar
And just like Hopkins was the oldest star to ever get the award (so far),Tatum O’Neal broke ground by being the youngest Oscar winner at 10 years old(she was 8 when the film was shot). Her Best Supporting Actress win — it is worth noting that some critics and audiences believe that she should have competed in the Lead Actress category instead — came a year after she starred inPaper Moonalongside her father,Ryan O’Neal.
Among many incredible child actor performances is O’Neal’s natural and heartfelt acting inPeter Bogdanovich’s feature, an American road drama in which the real-life father and daughter depict an unlikely paternal bond through characters Moses and Addie. Still, later in her memoir,Tatum admittedthat it was more of a traumatic event than a triumphant one.
Paper Moon
Watch on Max
Mahershala Ali
The first Muslim actor to win an Oscar
Known for his work in theacclaimed dark crimeseriesTrue Detectiveand Oscar-winning filmMoonlight,Mahershala Aliis an impressive actor often praised for his versatility across film and television. What’s more, the incredible American star is also passionate about social justice and activism, and is a properly trained martial artist and professional rapper.
Ali was honored with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the affectingGreen Book, which centers on the bond that blossoms between a working-class driver (Virgo Mortensen) and an African-American classical pianist.Ali was the first actor of the Muslim faith to ever win the award, thoughOmar Sharifwas also nominated in 1962 for his work inLawrence of Arabia. “I went through a process of digging through different religions and ways of connecting to God. And that ended up being Islam for me,” the startold The Guardian.
Green Book
Watch on DirecTV
José Ferrer
The first Latino actor to win an Oscar
Although four other Latino actors,Benicio del Toro,Anthony Quinn,Rita Moreno, andLupita Nyong’ohave earned Academy Awards for their performances so far, the first Latino actor to do it wasJosé Ferrer. The star took home the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts inCyrano de Bergarcin 1950. At the time, the only Latino person to win an Academy Award wasEmile Kuri, who was celebrated for Best Production Design just the year before.
The Most Nominated Woman in Oscars History Won Eight Awards
She’s still the icon and the moment.
In addition to being the first Latino actor holder of the iconic award, the talentedFerrer was also the first Puerto Rican to be honored with the prize. Another fun fact about the star is how he is related to a beloved movie star still working today — Ferrer wasGeorge Clooney’s uncle!
Buy on Amazon
Yalitza Aparicio
The first Indigenous person nominated for an Oscar
While Lily Gladstone’s Oscar nomination has everyone rightfully celebrating (she is, nonetheless, the first Native American woman born in the U.S.A. to be nominated),Yalitza Aparicio broke major ground by being the first Indigenous person to earn acclaim from the Academy Awards. Though the actor’s work inAlfonso Cuarón’s heart-wrenchingRomawas deserving of the award,Olivia Colmanended up taking it home.
Through Cuarón’s film, it is evident that a first-time Mexican actress whose parents are of Indigenous origin — her father is Mixtec, and her mother is Triqui — is a natural in her field. Still, shehas admittedshe doesn’t see herself as an actor. On top of her incredible performing talents, Aparicio is an activist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples.
Watch on Netflix
Miyoshi Umeki
The first East Asian actor to win an Oscar
WhileMichelle Yeoh’s win last year for her performance inEverything Everywhere All at Oncemarked the first timeeverin the span of the Academy Award’s 93-year-long history that an Asian woman earned the Best Leading Actress Oscar,Miyoshi Umeki paved the way for all Asian actors in 1958 when she earned the Best Supporting Actress awardfor her role inSayonara.MinariactressYuh-Jung Younwas the second Asian actress (and the first Korean one) to win the award in 2021.
In addition to her role in the 1957 film, Umeki, a post-1945 immigrant from Japan, was also celebrated for her work in the Broadway musical and 1961 filmFlower Drum Song, as well as her participation in the TV showThe Courtship of Eddie’s Father.
Watch on Tubi
Hattie McDaniel
The first Black person to win an Oscar
Believe it or not,Gone With the Wind’s Hattie McDaniel was not only the first Black actor to win an Academy Award, but also the first Black person in any category to win an Oscar. A trailblazer in cinema and Black history, McDaniel has become a symbol of racial progression in an era where she wasn’t allowed to attend the premiere of her own film in Atlanta because it was held at a “whites-only” theater.
The sad thing about McDaniel’s Oscar win, although her award went missing (the Academy is finally replacing itafter 50 years), is that it didn’t happen sooner. It took more than a decade for a Black person’s work to be recognized by the Academy, and although many Black women have been nominated since,Halle Berryremains the only Black actor with a Best Leading Actress Academy Award.
