Useful Notes / The EGOTs

The Grand Slam of American Entertainment

Chrissy Teigen: [John Legend]'s probably at home, polishing his EGOT.
Zach Galifianakis: ...Is that what he calls his penis?

— Between Two Ferns: The Movie

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In the United States, the four most important entertainment awards are the Emmy Awards for television,^note There are two Emmy Awards, handed out by two separate organizations: the Primetime Emmys are handed out by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS); and the Daytime Emmys are handed out by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). Yes, really. The two organizations were formerly united but separated in The '70s. It is generally agreed that winning either the Primetime or the Daytime Emmy "counts" for the purposes of the EGOT although the vast majority of the Emmy winners won Primetime Emmys; one of the two exceptions, Whoopi Goldberg, memorably defended her inclusion among the EGOT winners in an episode of 30 Rock the Grammy Awards for music, the Academy Awards or Oscars for film, and the Tony Awards for theater. People and franchises who've/that've won at least one competitive (non-honorary) award at all 4 ceremonies are called EGOTs. The term was coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas in The '80s, at the height of his celebrity. He has yet to even be nominated for any of these four awards. Lynn Redgrave is the only person in history to be nominated for all four awards and never win any of them.

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If a performer has won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony, all in the field of acting, they are said to have won the Triple Crown of Acting. There have been 23 Triple Crown winners to date, making them about twice as common as EGOT winners. Since we have a category of near-misses (3 out of 4 category winners) below, we will also note all Triple Crown winners.

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4 competitive awards (grand slam):

The year in parentheses is when the grand slam was completed; the first time each recipient won their fourth award.

People

• Mel Brooks^note Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Special for The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special in 1967, followed by three more Emmys; Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers in 1968; Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album for The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 in... 1998, followed by two more Grammys; three Tonys, including Best Musical, for The Producers in 2001 (2001)

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• John Gielgud^note Tony for Outstanding Foreign Company for The Importance of Being Earnest in 1948, followed by one more Tony plus an Honorary Award; Grammy for Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording for Ages of Man in 1979; Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Arthur in 1981; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries of Special for Summer's Lease in 1991 (1991)
• Whoopi Goldberg^note Grammy for Best Comedy Recording for Whoopi Goldberg: Original Broadway Show Recording in 1985; Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost in 1990; Tony for Best Musical for Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002; Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Special for Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel in 2002, followed by one more Emmy; also Special (Primetime) Emmy Award in 1997 (2002) (First African-American EGOT; Daytime Emmy winner)
• Marvin Hamlisch^note three Oscars for two films, including Best Original Song for "The Way We Were" in... The Way We Were, in 1973; four Grammys, including Song of the Year for "The Way We Were", in 1974; Tony for Best Musical Score for A Chorus Line in 1976; two Primetime Emmys for Barbra: the Concert in 1995, followed by two more Emmys (1995) (Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Helen Hayes^note Oscar for Best Actress for The Sin of Madelon Claudet in 1932, followed by one more Oscar; Tony for Best Actress for Happy Birthday in 1947, followed by one more competitive Tony and a Special Award; Primetime Emmy for Best Actress for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (episode "Not a Chance") in 1953; Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for Great American Documents in 1977 (1977) (second-ever and first female EGOT; Triple Crown winner)
• Audrey Hepburn^note Oscar for Best Actress for Roman Holiday in 1953, plus the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award; Tony for Best Actress in a Play for Ondine in 1954, plus a Special Achievement Award; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement, Informational Programming for Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn in 1993; Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales in 1994 (1994) (Emmy and Grammy awarded posthumously, making her the first posthumous EGOT; first EGOT to receive only one award at all four ceremonies)
• John Legend^note Grammy for Best New Artist in 2006, followed by nine more Grammys; Oscar for Best Original Song for "Glory" from Selma in 2015; Tony for Best Revival of a Play in 2017, for Jitney; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Live Variety Special for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert in 2018, followed by one more Emmy (2018)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber^note Tony for Best Original Score for Evita in 1980, followed by five more Tonys and a Lifetime Achievement Award; Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for Evita in 1981, followed by two more Grammys and a Grammy Legend Award; Oscar for Best Original Song for "You Must Love Me" from Evita in 1996, Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Live Variety Special for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert in 2018 (2018)
• Robert Lopez^note Tony for Best Original Score for Avenue Q in 2004, followed by two more Tonys; Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for Wonder Pets!, followed by one more Emmy; Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album for The Book of Mormon in 2012, followed by two more Grammys; Oscar for Best Original Song for "Let It Go" from Frozen in 2014, followed by one more Oscar (2014) (first Asian EGOT; Daytime Emmy winner; shortest timespan in winning all 4 awards by a person—10 years; first person to win multiples of each award)
• Rita Moreno^note Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for West Side Story in 1961; Grammy for Best Recording for Children for The Electric Company in 1972; Tony for Best Supporting Actress in a Play for The Ritz in 1975; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music for The Muppet Show in 1977, followed by one more Emmy (1977) (first Hispanic EGOT; Triple Crown winner; Peabody Award winner)
• Mike Nichols^note Grammy for Best Comedy Performance for An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May in 1961; Tony for Best Director for Barefoot in the Park in 1964, followed by eight more Tonys; Oscar for Best Director for The Graduate in 1967; two Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding TV Movie, for Wit in 2001, followed by two more Emmys (2001) (longest timespan in winning all 4 awards—51 years; Peabody Award winner)
• Tim Rice ^note  Tony for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical for Evita in 1980, followed by one more Tony; Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for Evita in 1981, followed by four more Grammys; Oscar for Best Original Song for "A Whole New World" from Aladdin in 1993, followed by two more Oscars; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Live Variety Special for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert in 2018 (2018)
• Richard Rodgers^note Three Tonys, including Best Musical, for South Pacific in 1950, followed by three more Tonys and three Special Tony Awards; Oscar for Best Song for "It Might as Well Be Spring" from State Fair in 1945; Grammy for Best Show Album (Original Cast) for The Sound of Music in 1960, followed by one more Grammy; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music for Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years in 1962 (1962) (first-ever EGOT; Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Scott Rudin^note Primetime Emmy for He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' in 1984; Tony for Best Musical for Passion in 1994, followed by fourteen more Tonys; Oscar for Best Picture for No Country for Old Men in 2007; Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for The Book of Mormon in 2012 (2012) (most prolific winner, at 18 total awards received as of 2018; also winner of the most of any one award among the EGOT winners—15 Tonys)
• Jonathan Tunick^note Oscar for Best Original Score for A Little Night Music in 1977; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for Night of 100 Stars in 1982; Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals for "No One is Alone" in 1988; Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Titanic in 1997 (1997)

Franchises

• Aladdin^note Two Oscars, including Best Original Song for "A Whole New World" in 1993; four Grammys, including Song of the Year for a "A Whole New World" in 1994; three Daytime Emmys in 1995, followed by one more Emmy; Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (James Monroe Inglehart as the Genie) in 2014 (2014) (Daytime Emmy winner)
• The Lion King^note  Two Oscars, including Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in 1995; three Grammys, including Pop Male Vocal (Elton John for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight") in 1995; Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Nathan Lane as Timon) in 1996, followed by three more Emmys; five Tonys, including Best Musical, in 1998 (1998) (Daytime Emmy winner; shortest timespan in winning all 4 awards—4 years)
• Porgy and Bess^note Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album, Original Cast - Motion Picture or Television in 1959, followed by three more Grammys; Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture in 1960; Tony for Most Innovative Production of a Revival, in 1977, followed by two more Tonys; Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program in 1994 (1994)
• The Sound of Music^note Five Tonys, including Best Musical, in 1960; Grammy for Best Show Album (Original Cast) in 1961; five Oscars, including Best Picture, in 1966; Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special in 2014 (2014)
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street^note Eight Tonys, including Best Musical, in 1979; Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album in 1980; three Primetime Emmys in 1985; Oscar for Best Art Direction in 2008 (2008)

3 out of 4 competitive awards (near-misses):

For extra fun, * marks creators who have been nominated for the missing award.

People

• Jack Albertson (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Julie Andrews* (missing a Tony)
• Anne Bancroft (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Ingrid Bergman (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Jerry Bock (missing an Oscar — now deceased; Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Shirley Booth (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Harry Belafonte (received honorary Oscar)
• Leonard Bernstein* (missing an Oscar — now deceased)
• George Burns (missing a Tony — now deceased)
• Ralph Burns (missing a Grammy — now deceased)
• Ellen Burstyn (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Martin Charnin (missing an Oscar — now deceased; Peabody Award winner)
• Cher (missing a Tony)
• Common (missing a Tony)
• Viola Davis (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Melvyn Douglas (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Bob Fosse (missing a Grammy — now deceased)^note Although he is the only person to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony in the same year.
• Anne Garefino (missing an Oscar; Peabody Award winner)
• Hildur Guðnadóttir (missing a Tony)
• Oscar Hammerstein II (missing an Emmy — now deceased; Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Neil Patrick Harris (missing an Oscar)
• Jeremy Irons* (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Hugh Jackman* (missing an Oscar)
• Glenda Jackson (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Elton John (missing an Emmy)
• James Earl Jones* (received honorary Oscar)
• Quincy Jones* (received honorary Oscar)
• Jessica Lange (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Cyndi Lauper (missing an Oscar)
• Frank Loesser (missing an Emmy — now deceased; Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Alan Menken* (received honorary Emmy for his involvement in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue)
• Frances McDormand (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Bette Midler* (missing an Oscar)
• Liza Minnelli* (received honorary Grammy)
• Lin-Manuel Miranda* (missing an Oscar; Pulitzer Prize winner and MacArthur "genius grant" recipient)
• Helen Mirren (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Thomas Mitchell (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• James Moll (missing a Tony; Peabody Award Winner)
• Cynthia Nixon (missing an Oscar)
• Al Pacino* (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Trey Parker and Matt Stone* (missing an Oscar; Parker received a Student Oscar)
• Benj Pasek and Justin Paul* (missing an Emmy)
• Billy Porter (missing an Oscar)
• Christopher Plummer (missing a Grammy; oldest Triple Crown winner)
• Vanessa Redgrave (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Jason Robards (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Geoffrey Rush (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Paul Scofield (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Martin Scorsese (missing a Tony)
• Marc Shaiman* (missing an Oscar)
• Maggie Smith (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner)
• Stephen Sondheim (missing an Emmy; Pulitzer Prize winner)
• Bruce Springsteen (missing an Emmy)
• Maureen Stapleton (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Barbra Streisand* (received honorary Tony; Peabody Award winner)
• Charles Strouse (missing an Oscar)
• Jessica Tandy (missing a Grammy; Triple Crown winner — now deceased)
• Lily Tomlin* (missing an Oscar; Peabody Award winner)
• Peter Ustinov* (missing a Tony — now deceased)
• Dick Van Dyke (missing an Oscar)
• Tony Walton (missing a Grammy)^note The only set designer to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony. No Grammys for set design, alas.
• John Williams (missing a Tony)
• Robin Williams (missing a Tony — now deceased)
• Kate Winslet (missing a Tony)

Franchises

• A Little Night Music (missing an Emmy)
• Amadeus (missing an Emmy)
• Annie* (missing an Oscar)
• Annie Get Your Gun (missing an Emmy)
• Batman (missing a Tony)
• Beauty and the Beast (missing an Emmy)
• Cabaret (missing an Emmy)
• Chicago (missing an Emmy)
• The Color Purple* (missing an Oscar)
• Dracula (missing a Grammy — original work in the Public Domain)
• Dreamgirls (missing an Emmy)
• Evita (missing an Emmy)
• Gigi (missing an Emmy)
• Gypsy* (missing an Oscar)
• Hairspray (missing an Oscar)
• Harry Potter (missing an Emmy)
• Hello, Dolly! (missing an Emmy)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (missing a Tony)
• Indiana Jones (missing a Tony)
• Les Misérables (missing an Emmy)
• The Lion in Winter (missing a Grammy)
• Looney Tunes (missing a Tony)
• Marvel Cinematic Universe (missing a Tony)
• Mary Poppins (missing an Emmy)
• The Miracle Worker (missing a Grammy)
• The Muppets (missing a Tony)
• The Music Man* (missing an Emmy)
• Once (missing an Emmy)
• Peter Pan (missing a Grammy)
• The Phantom of the Opera* (missing a Grammy)
• The Producers (missing an Emmy)
• RENT (missing an Oscar)
• Shrek* (missing a Grammy)
• South Pacific* (missing a Grammy)
• Star Wars (missing a Tony)
• Toy Story (missing a Tony)
• West Side Story (missing an Emmy)
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (missing an Emmy)
• Winnie-the-Pooh (missing a Tony)
• The Wiz* (missing an Oscar)

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