The 5 Youngest Oscar-Winning Actors Of All Time: Records That May Never Be Broken
The pursuit of an Academy Award is a lifelong dream for most actors, but for a select few, the ultimate prize arrived before they even reached adulthood. As of the current date, December 23, 2025, the record for the youngest competitive Oscar winner remains unbroken, a testament to a performance that captivated the world over 50 years ago. This list details the incredible child and young adult stars who defied age to etch their names into Hollywood history, holding records that, in some categories, have stood for decades.
The stories of these young winners are as compelling as their performances, often charting dramatic career trajectories that follow the immense pressure of early success. From the youngest winner overall to the record holders in the major acting categories, here is a definitive look at the youngest Oscar-winning actors and actresses.
The Definitive List: Youngest Competitive Oscar Winners by Category
To provide a clear context for this monumental achievement, the Academy Awards are divided into four competitive acting categories. The overall youngest winner is a Supporting Actress, but the records for the Lead categories are held by actors who were significantly older.
- Overall Youngest Competitive Winner: Tatum O'Neal (Age 10)
- Youngest Best Actor Winner: Adrien Brody (Age 29)
- Youngest Best Supporting Actor Winner: Timothy Hutton (Age 20)
- Youngest Best Actress Winner: Marlee Matlin (Age 21)
1. Tatum O'Neal: The Unbreakable Record Holder (Age 10)
Tatum O'Neal holds the undisputed record for the youngest person to ever win a competitive Academy Award.
Biography & Oscar Profile
- Full Name: Tatum Beatrice O'Neal
- Born: November 5, 1963
- Award Won: Best Supporting Actress
- Film: Paper Moon (1973)
- Age at Win: 10 years and 148 days
- Co-star: Her father, Ryan O'Neal
Tatum O'Neal won the Oscar at the 46th Academy Awards ceremony on April 2, 1974, for her role as the cynical, cigarette-smoking orphan Addie Loggins in the film Paper Moon. Her win was a sensation, triumphing over co-star Madeline Kahn and veteran actress Linda Blair. Her performance, alongside her father Ryan O'Neal, remains an iconic example of precocious talent in cinema. The immense pressure and scrutiny of this early success became a central theme in her later life and career, a cautionary tale often discussed in Hollywood circles about child actors.
2. Timothy Hutton: Youngest Male Winner (Age 20)
The record for the youngest male actor to win a competitive Oscar belongs to Timothy Hutton.
Biography & Oscar Profile
- Full Name: Timothy Tarquin Hutton
- Born: August 16, 1960
- Award Won: Best Supporting Actor
- Film: Ordinary People (1980)
- Age at Win: 20 years and 227 days
- Director: Robert Redford
Hutton's win at the 53rd Academy Awards for his portrayal of Conrad Jarrett, a sensitive and suicidal son dealing with the aftermath of a family tragedy in the drama Ordinary People, made him the youngest male acting winner in history. The film, directed by Robert Redford, was a critical darling, also winning Best Picture and Best Director. Hutton’s performance was hailed for its emotional depth and maturity, especially for an actor so young. His career following the win included roles in films like Taps and the TV series Leverage, demonstrating a sustained career that successfully transitioned from a child star to an adult working actor.
3. Marlee Matlin: Youngest Best Actress and a Historic First (Age 21)
Marlee Matlin not only holds the record for the youngest winner in the Best Actress category but also achieved a monumental first in Academy history.
Biography & Oscar Profile
- Full Name: Marlee Beth Matlin
- Born: August 24, 1965
- Award Won: Best Actress
- Film: Children of a Lesser God (1986)
- Age at Win: 21 years and 218 days
- Historical Note: First and only Deaf actor to win an Academy Award.
Matlin's powerful debut performance as Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman working at a school for the deaf, earned her the Best Actress Oscar at the 59th Academy Awards. Her victory was a groundbreaking moment, as she became the first and only Deaf actor to ever win an Academy Award, shattering expectations and opening doors for deaf representation in Hollywood. Her career has continued to thrive, highlighted by her critically acclaimed role in the 2021 Best Picture winner, CODA, which brought the conversation about deaf actors and their stories back to the forefront.
The Youngest Best Actor: Adrien Brody’s 20-Year-Plus Record
The record for the youngest winner in the most prestigious male category, Best Actor in a Leading Role, is surprisingly held by an actor in his late twenties.
4. Adrien Brody (Age 29)
- Full Name: Adrien Brody
- Born: April 14, 1973
- Award Won: Best Actor
- Film: The Pianist (2002)
- Age at Win: 29 years and 343 days
- Director: Roman Polanski
Adrien Brody set this record at the 75th Academy Awards on March 23, 2003, for his transformative and searing performance as Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski's war drama, The Pianist. What makes this record particularly notable is that Brody remains the only actor under the age of 30 to ever win the Best Actor trophy, a record he has now held for more than two decades. His career has since seen him tackle diverse roles in films like King Kong and Wes Anderson's movies, cementing his status as a versatile and enduring talent.
Beyond the Winners: The Youngest Nominees and Honorary Awards
While winning is the ultimate achievement, the recognition of a nomination at a young age is equally rare and highlights incredible talent.
The Youngest Nominees
The record for the youngest competitive acting nominee is held by Justin Henry, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) at the age of 8. This record is closely followed by Quvenzhané Wallis, who earned a Best Actress nomination at age 9 for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). Neither of these young stars took home the trophy, but their nominations speak volumes about their on-screen power.
The Youngest Non-Competitive Winner
For a complete picture of youth at the Oscars, the youngest person ever recognized by the Academy is the legendary Shirley Temple. She received a special, non-competitive Juvenile Academy Award at the age of 6 in 1935, an honor given to recognize outstanding contributions by juvenile performers. Although not a competitive win, her recognition at such a tender age showcases the early history of the Academy honoring child prodigies.
The stories of these young Oscar winners—from Tatum O'Neal's historic ten-year-old triumph to Adrien Brody's long-standing Best Actor record—underscore the fact that talent truly knows no age. The pressure and promise of an early Oscar win forge a unique path in a demanding industry, making their achievements all the more legendary.
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