From 10 to 83: The Oscars' youngest and oldest acting winners ever
The Oscars have seen winners of all ages, from child stars to veteran performers. Some records still stand decades after they were set, marking extraordinary achievements in acting history. The youngest and oldest winners in each category remain distinct, with no single actor holding both titles.
In 1974, Tatum O'Neal became the youngest Oscar winner at just 10 years old. She took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in Paper Moon. Over 40 years later, her record remains unbroken.
The oldest winner in the same category is Peggy Ashcroft, who won at 77 for A Passage to India in 1985. Her performance earned her the title after a long and celebrated career.
For Best Actress, Marlee Matlin made history as the youngest winner at 21. She also became the first deaf performer to win an Oscar for Children of a Lesser God in 1987. The oldest in this category is Jessica Tandy, who won at 80 for Driving Miss Daisy in 1990.
Adrien Brody holds the record for the youngest Best Actor, winning at 29 for The Pianist in 2003. Meanwhile, Anthony Hopkins became the oldest Best Actor winner at 83 for The Father in 2021.
The Best Supporting Actor category has its own extremes. Timothy Hutton won at 20 for Ordinary People in 1980, while Christopher Plummer took the award at 82 for Beginners in 2012.
These records show the wide range of talent recognised by the Academy over the years. From child prodigies to seasoned actors, each winner represents a unique moment in Oscar history. No single performer has ever held both the youngest and oldest records in their acting category.
