Walter Brennan holds the undisputed record. He is the only performer to have won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor three times. It is a feat that has stood the test of time, spanning the late 30s and early 40s. He took home statues for Come and Get It, Kentucky, and The Westerner. But he isn’t alone in taking home multiple trophies. Several other actors have also crossed the two-win threshold in the category.
Here is who else has won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar more than once.
The Double Winners
The list of two-time winners reads like a who’s who of Hollywood history. It spans decades and genres. The first name on the list after Brennan is Anthony Quinn. He won twice in the 1950s. His wins came for Viva Zapata! in 1952 and Lust for Life in 1956.
Peter Ustinov also secured two wins. He claimed the award for Spartacus in 1960 and followed it up with Topkapi in 1964. Melvyn Douglas is another double winner. He took home his first Oscar for Hud in 1963. He returned to the podium 16 years later for Being There in 1979.
Jason Robards is tied for second place. He won for All the President’s Men in 1976. The following year, he won again for Julia.
Michael Caine has two Best Supporting Actor awards. He first won in 1986 for Hannah and Her Sisters. He won his second statuette in 1999 for The Cider House Rules.
Recent Double Winners
Christoph Waltz joined the exclusive club in the 2010s. He won back-to-back Oscars for his roles in Inglourious Basterds in 2009 and Django Unchained in 2012.
Mahershala Ali is the most recent double winner on this list. He won for Moonlight in 2016. Two years later, he won again for Green Book.
“Walter Brennan holds the undisputed record… It is a feat that has stood the test of time.”
These actors proved that supporting roles can carry entire films. They earned the recognition of their peers. They secured their places in Oscar history.
The category has changed over the years. The types of roles have shifted. But the desire to honor the best supporting performance remains. Who will be next to join this list?
One name stands above the rest. Three wins. No one else has matched it.
