The Youngest Oscar Winner and 9 More Young Record-Holders

Shirley Temple is the youngest person in Oscar history to receive an award, but it was an honorary recognition, not an award in a competitive category. AKaiser / Shutterstock

Who was the youngest Oscar winner in Academy Awards history? The Oscars have celebrated talent across all ages, but only a few have taken home a golden statue before even reaching adulthood.

From supporting roles to leading performances, here are 10 record-holders and unforgettable moments among the youngest winners in Oscar history.

Contents

Shirley Temple (Honorary Oscar, Age 6)
Tatum O'Neal (Winner, Age 10)
Jackie Cooper (Nominee, Age 9)
Quvenzhané Wallis (Nominee, Age 9)
Anna Paquin (Winner, Age 11)
Patty Duke (Winner, Age 16)
Timothy Hutton (Winner, Age 20)
Marlee Matlin (Winner, Age 21)
Adrien Brody (Winner, Age 29)
Damien Chazelle (Nominee, Age 32)

1. Shirley Temple (Honorary Oscar, Age 6)

Though not a competitive category, Shirley Temple received an Academy Award at age 6 in 1935 for her contributions as an uplifting performer in the wake of the Great Depression.

This made her the youngest recipient in Oscar history, though not officially among youngest nominees.

2. Tatum O'Neal (Winner, Age 10)

Winning Best Supporting Actress for "Paper Moon" (1973), Tatum O'Neal remains the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Award. Her role opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal, showcased remarkable depth for someone so young.

3. Jackie Cooper (Nominee, Age 9)

Though he didn’t win, Cooper remains the youngest Best Actor nominee ever, thanks to his role in "Skippy" (1931). He even fell asleep during the ceremony.

4. Quvenzhané Wallis (Nominee, Age 9)

The breakout star of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (2012), Wallis became the youngest Best Actress nominee ever. Her role as Hushpuppy marked one of the boldest performances by a child in recent Oscar memory.

5. Anna Paquin (Winner, Age 11)

Paquin won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "The Piano" (1993). Her emotional intensity stunned viewers and voters alike, placing her among the youngest Oscar winners ever.

6. Patty Duke (Winner, Age 16)

Winning Best Supporting Actress for playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" (1962), Duke's portrayal was haunting and powerful, earning her a historic Oscar win.

7. Timothy Hutton (Winner, Age 20)

Hutton is still the youngest Best Supporting Actor winner for his role in "Ordinary People" (1980). His emotionally raw performance helped secure the film's Best Picture win.

8. Marlee Matlin (Winner, Age 21)

Matlin won Best Actress for "Children of a Lesser God" (1986), becoming both the youngest in that category and the first deaf performer to win an Oscar. Her role was a milestone in Academy Award history.

9. Adrien Brody (Winner, Age 29)

As the youngest Best Actor winner, Brody took home the award for "The Pianist" (2002). His heartfelt and devastating performance made Oscar history.

10. Damien Chazelle (Nominee, Age 32)

While not an actor, Damien Chazelle became the youngest Best Director winner in 2017 for "La La Land." His nod reminded Hollywood that age doesn’t define greatness behind the camera either.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.