List of Academy Award for Best Director winners by age
This is a list of winners of the Academy Award of Merit for Achievement in Directing, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)[1] to a director who has delivered outstanding direction while working on a particular film within the industry. More popularly known as the Academy Award (or the Oscar) for Best Directing, this award was initially presented at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony for 1927 and 1928 and was most recently presented at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony for 2015.[2] Throughout the past 88 years, accounting for shared and repeat winners, AMPAS has presented a total of 91 Best Directing awards to 67 different directors. This list is current as of the 88th Academy Awards ceremony held on February 28, 2016.[3]
List of winners
# |
Director |
Film |
Date of birth |
Date of award |
Age upon receiving award |
Date of death |
Lifespan |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Frank Borzage | Seventh Heaven | April 23, 1894 | May 16, 1929 | 35 years, 23 days | June 19, 1962 | 24,893 days (68 years, 57 days) | Dramatic;[4] 1st of 2 Held record as oldest winner for 1 award ceremony (from the 1st to the 2nd, May 1929–April 1930 [11 months]) |
2 | Lewis Milestone | Two Arabian Knights | September 30, 1895 | May 16, 1929 | 33 years, 228 days | September 25, 1980 | 31,041 days (84 years, 361 days) | Comedy;[4] 1st of 2 Held record as youngest winner for 3 award ceremonies (from the 1st to the 4th, May 1929–November 1931 [2 years, 6 months]) |
3 | Frank Lloyd | The Divine Lady | February 2, 1886 | April 3, 1930 | 44 years, 60 days | August 10, 1960 | 27,217 days (74 years, 190 days) | 1st of 2 Held record as oldest winner for 10 award ceremonies (from the 2nd to the 12th, April 1930–February 1940) |
4 | Lewis Milestone | All Quiet on the Western Front | September 30, 1895 | November 5, 1930 | 35 years, 36 days | September 25, 1980 | 31,041 days (84 years, 361 days) | 2nd of 2 |
5 | Norman Taurog | Skippy | February 23, 1899 | November 10, 1931 | 32 years, 260 days | April 7, 1981 | 29,993 days (82 years, 43 days) | Has held record as youngest winner for 83 award ceremonies (from the 4th through the 87th, November 1931–February 2015 [83 years, 3 months]) |
6 | Frank Borzage | Bad Girl | April 23, 1894 | November 18, 1932 | 38 years, 209 days | June 19, 1962 | 24,893 days (68 years, 57 days) | 2nd of 2 |
7 | Frank Lloyd | Cavalcade | February 2, 1886 | March 16, 1934 | 48 years, 42 days | August 10, 1960 | 27,217 days (74 years, 190 days) | 2nd of 2 |
8 | Frank Capra | It Happened One Night | May 18, 1897 | February 27, 1935 | 37 years, 285 days | September 3, 1991 | 34,440 days (94 years, 108 days)[5] | 1st of 3 |
9 | John Ford | The Informer | February 1, 1894 | March 5, 1936 | 42 years, 33 days | August 31, 1973 | 29,065 days (79 years, 211 days) | 1st of 4 |
10 | Frank Capra | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | May 18, 1897 | March 4, 1937 | 39 years, 290 days | September 3, 1991 | 34,440 days (94 years, 108 days)[5] | 2nd of 3 |
11 | Leo McCarey | The Awful Truth | October 3, 1898 | March 10, 1938 | 39 years, 158 days | July 5, 1969 | 25,842 days (70 years, 275 days) | 1st of 2 |
12 | Frank Capra | You Can't Take It With You | May 18, 1897 | February 23, 1939 | 41 years, 281 days | September 3, 1991 | 34,440 days (94 years, 108 days)[5] | 3rd of 3 |
13 | Victor Fleming | Gone with the Wind | February 23, 1889 | February 29, 1940 | 51 years, 6 days | January 6, 1949 | 21,866 days (59 years, 318 days)[6] | Held record as oldest winner for 4 award ceremonies (from the 12th to the 16th, February 1940–March 1944) |
14 | John Ford | The Grapes of Wrath | February 1, 1894 | February 27, 1941 | 47 years, 26 days | August 31, 1973 | 29,065 days (79 years, 211 days) | 2nd of 4 |
15 | John Ford | How Green Was My Valley | February 1, 1894 | February 26, 1942 | 48 years, 25 days | August 31, 1973 | 29,065 days (79 years, 211 days) | 3rd of 4 |
16 | William Wyler | Mrs. Miniver | July 1, 1902 | March 4, 1943 | 40 years, 246 days | July 27, 1981 | 28,881 days (79 years, 26 days) | 1st of 3 |
17 | Michael Curtiz | Casablanca | December 24, 1886 | March 2, 1944 | 57 years, 69 days | April 10, 1962 | 27,500 days (75 years, 107 days) | Held record as oldest winner for 9 award ceremonies (from the 16th to the 25th, March 1944–March 1953) |
18 | Leo McCarey | Going My Way | October 3, 1898 | March 15, 1945 | 46 years, 163 days | July 5, 1969 | 25,842 days (70 years, 275 days) | 2nd of 2 |
19 | Billy Wilder | The Lost Weekend | June 22, 1906 | March 7, 1946 | 39 years, 258 days | March 27, 2002 | 34,977 days (95 years, 278 days)[7] | 1st of 2 |
20 | William Wyler | The Best Years of Our Lives | July 1, 1902 | March 13, 1947 | 44 years, 255 days | July 27, 1981 | 28,881 days (79 years, 26 days) | 2nd of 3 |
21 | Elia Kazan | Gentleman's Agreement | September 7, 1909 | March 20, 1948 | 38 years, 195 days | September 28, 2003 | 34,354 days (94 years, 21 days)[8] | 1st of 2 |
22 | John Huston | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre | August 5, 1906 | March 24, 1949 | 42 years, 231 days | August 28, 1987 | 29,608 days (81 years, 23 days) | |
23 | Joseph L. Mankiewicz | A Letter to Three Wives | February 11, 1909 | March 23, 1950 | 41 years, 40 days | February 5, 1993 | 30,675 days (83 years, 360 days) | 1st of 2 |
24 | Joseph L. Mankiewicz | All About Eve | February 11, 1909 | March 29, 1951 | 42 years, 46 days | February 5, 1993 | 30,675 days (83 years, 360 days) | 2nd of 2 |
25 | George Stevens | A Place in the Sun | December 18, 1904 | March 20, 1952 | 47 years, 93 days | March 8, 1975 | 25,647 days (70 years, 80 days) | 1st of 2 |
26 | John Ford | The Quiet Man | February 1, 1894 | March 19, 1953 | 59 years, 46 days | August 31, 1973 | 29,065 days (79 years, 211 days) | 4th of 4 Held record as oldest winner for 12 award ceremonies (from the 25th to the 37th, March 1953–April 1965) |
27 | Fred Zinnemann | From Here to Eternity | April 29, 1907 | March 25, 1954 | 46 years, 330 days | March 14, 1997 | 32,827 days (89 years, 319 days) | 1st of 2 |
28 | Elia Kazan | On the Waterfront | September 7, 1909 | March 30, 1955 | 45 years, 204 days | September 28, 2003 | 34,354 days (94 years, 21 days)[8] | 2nd of 2 |
29 | Delbert Mann | Marty | January 30, 1920 | March 21, 1956 | 36 years, 51 days | November 11, 2007 | 32,062 days (87 years, 285 days) | |
30 | George Stevens | Giant | December 18, 1904 | March 27, 1957 | 52 years, 99 days | March 8, 1975 | 25,647 days (70 years, 80 days) | 2nd of 2 |
31 | David Lean | The Bridge on the River Kwai | March 25, 1908 | March 26, 1958 | 50 years, 1 day | April 16, 1991 | 30,337 days (83 years, 22 days) | 1st of 2 |
32 | Vincente Minnelli | Gigi | February 28, 1903 | April 6, 1959 | 56 years, 37 days | July 25, 1986 | 30,463 days (83 years, 147 days) | |
33 | William Wyler | Ben-Hur | July 1, 1902 | April 4, 1960 | 57 years, 278 days | July 27, 1981 | 28,881 days (79 years, 26 days) | 3rd of 3 |
34 | Billy Wilder | The Apartment | June 22, 1906 | April 17, 1961 | 54 years, 299 days | March 27, 2002 | 34,977 days (95 years, 278 days)[7] | 2nd of 2 |
35 | Jerome Robbins | West Side Story | October 11, 1918 | April 9, 1962 | 43 years, 180 days | July 29, 1998 | 29,146 days (79 years, 291 days) | Shared |
36 | Robert Wise | West Side Story | September 10, 1914 | April 9, 1962 | 47 years, 211 days | September 14, 2005 | 33,242 days (91 years, 4 days) | Shared; 1st of 2 |
37 | David Lean | Lawrence of Arabia | March 25, 1908 | April 8, 1963 | 55 years, 14 days | April 16, 1991 | 30,337 days (83 years, 22 days) | 2nd of 2 |
38 | Tony Richardson | Tom Jones | June 5, 1928 | April 13, 1964 | 35 years, 313 days | November 14, 1991 | 23,172 days (63 years, 162 days) | |
39 | George Cukor | My Fair Lady | July 7, 1899 | April 5, 1965 | 65 years, 272 days | January 24, 1983 | 30,516 days (83 years, 201 days) | Held record as oldest winner for 38 award ceremonies (from the 37th to the 75th, April 1965–March 2003) |
40 | Robert Wise | The Sound of Music | September 10, 1914 | April 18, 1966 | 51 years, 220 days | September 14, 2005 | 33,242 days (91 years, 4 days) | 2nd of 2 |
41 | Fred Zinnemann | A Man for All Seasons | April 29, 1907 | April 10, 1967 | 59 years, 346 days | March 14, 1997 | 32,827 days (89 years, 319 days) | 2nd of 2 |
42 | Mike Nichols | The Graduate | November 6, 1931 | April 10, 1968 | 36 years, 156 days | November 19, 2014 | 30,329 days (83 years, 13 days) | |
43 | Carol Reed | Oliver! | December 30, 1906 | April 14, 1969 | 62 years, 105 days | April 25, 1976 | 25,319 days (69 years, 117 days)[9] | |
44 | John Schlesinger | Midnight Cowboy | February 16, 1926 | April 7, 1970 | 44 years, 50 days | July 25, 2003 | 28,283 days (77 years, 159 days) | |
45 | Franklin J. Schaffner | Patton | May 30, 1920 | April 15, 1971 | 50 years, 320 days | July 2, 1989 | 25,235 days (69 years, 33 days) | |
46 | William Friedkin | The French Connection | August 29, 1935 | April 10, 1972 | 36 years, 225 days | 29,419 days (80 years, 199 days) | ||
47 | Bob Fosse | Cabaret | June 23, 1927 | March 27, 1973 | 45 years, 277 days | September 23, 1987 | 22,007 days (60 years, 92 days) | |
48 | George Roy Hill | The Sting | December 20, 1921 | April 2, 1974 | 52 years, 103 days | December 27, 2002 | 29,592 days (81 years, 7 days) | |
49 | Francis Ford Coppola | The Godfather Part II | April 7, 1939 | April 8, 1975 | 36 years, 1 day | 28,102 days (76 years, 343 days) | ||
50 | Miloš Forman | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | February 18, 1932 | March 29, 1976 | 44 years, 40 days | 30,707 days (84 years, 26 days) | 1st of 2 | |
51 | John G. Avildsen | Rocky | December 21, 1935 | March 28, 1977 | 41 years, 97 days | 29,305 days (80 years, 85 days) | ||
52 | Woody Allen | Annie Hall | December 1, 1935 | April 3, 1978 | 42 years, 123 days | 29,325 days (80 years, 105 days) | ||
53 | Michael Cimino | The Deer Hunter | February 3, 1939 | April 9, 1979 | 40 years, 65 days | 28,165 days (77 years, 41 days) | ||
54 | Robert Benton | Kramer vs. Kramer | September 29, 1932 | April 14, 1980 | 47 years, 198 days | 30,483 days (83 years, 168 days) | ||
55 | Robert Redford | Ordinary People | August 18, 1936 | March 31, 1981 | 44 years, 225 days | 29,064 days (79 years, 210 days) | ||
56 | Warren Beatty | Reds | March 30, 1937 | March 29, 1982 | 44 years, 364 days | 28,840 days (78 years, 351 days) | ||
57 | Richard Attenborough | Gandhi | August 29, 1923 | April 11, 1983 | 59 years, 225 days | August 24, 2014 | 33,233 days (90 years, 360 days) | |
58 | James L. Brooks | Terms of Endearment | May 9, 1940 | April 9, 1984 | 43 years, 336 days | 27,704 days (75 years, 311 days) | ||
59 | Miloš Forman | Amadeus | February 18, 1932 | March 25, 1985 | 53 years, 35 days | 30,707 days (84 years, 26 days) | 2nd of 2 | |
60 | Sydney Pollack | Out of Africa | July 1, 1934 | March 24, 1986 | 51 years, 266 days | May 26, 2008 | 26,993 days (73 years, 330 days) | |
61 | Oliver Stone | Platoon | September 15, 1946 | March 30, 1987 | 40 years, 196 days | 25,384 days (69 years, 182 days) | 1st of 2 | |
62 | Bernardo Bertolucci | The Last Emperor | March 16, 1940 | April 11, 1988 | 48 years, 26 days | 27,758 days (75 years, 365 days) | ||
63 | Barry Levinson | Rain Man | April 6, 1942 | March 27, 1989 | 46 years, 355 days | 27,007 days (73 years, 344 days) | ||
64 | Oliver Stone | Born on the Fourth of July | September 15, 1946 | March 26, 1990 | 43 years, 192 days | 25,384 days (69 years, 182 days) | 2nd of 2 | |
65 | Kevin Costner | Dances with Wolves | January 18, 1955 | March 25, 1991 | 36 years, 66 days | 22,337 days (61 years, 57 days) | ||
66 | Jonathan Demme | The Silence of the Lambs | February 22, 1944 | March 30, 1992 | 48 years, 37 days | 26,320 days (72 years, 22 days) | ||
67 | Clint Eastwood | Unforgiven | May 31, 1930 | March 29, 1993 | 62 years, 302 days | 31,335 days (85 years, 289 days) | 1st of 2 | |
68 | Steven Spielberg | Schindler's List | December 18, 1946 | March 21, 1994 | 47 years, 93 days | 25,290 days (69 years, 88 days) | 1st of 2 | |
69 | Robert Zemeckis | Forrest Gump | May 14, 1951 | March 27, 1995 | 43 years, 317 days | 23,682 days (64 years, 306 days) | ||
70 | Mel Gibson | Braveheart | January 3, 1956 | March 25, 1996 | 40 years, 82 days | 21,987 days (60 years, 72 days) | ||
71 | Anthony Minghella | The English Patient | January 6, 1954 | March 24, 1997 | 43 years, 77 days | March 18, 2008 | 19,795 days (54 years, 72 days)[10] | |
72 | James Cameron | Titanic | August 16, 1954 | March 23, 1998 | 43 years, 219 days | 22,492 days (61 years, 212 days) | ||
73 | Steven Spielberg | Saving Private Ryan | December 18, 1946 | March 21, 1999 | 52 years, 93 days | 25,290 days (69 years, 88 days) | 2nd of 2 | |
74 | Sam Mendes | American Beauty | August 1, 1965 | March 26, 2000 | 34 years, 238 days | 18,489 days (50 years, 227 days) | ||
75 | Steven Soderbergh | Traffic | January 14, 1963 | March 25, 2001 | 38 years, 70 days | 19,419 days (53 years, 61 days) | ||
76 | Ron Howard | A Beautiful Mind | March 1, 1954 | March 24, 2002 | 48 years, 23 days | 22,660 days (62 years, 14 days) | ||
77 | Roman Polanski | The Pianist | August 18, 1933 | March 23, 2003 | 69 years, 217 days | 30,160 days (82 years, 210 days) | Held record as oldest winner for 2 award ceremonies (from the 75th to the 77th, March 2003–February 2005) | |
78 | Peter Jackson | Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | October 31, 1961 | February 29, 2004 | 42 years, 121 days | 19,859 days (54 years, 136 days) | ||
79 | Clint Eastwood | Million Dollar Baby | May 31, 1930 | February 27, 2005 | 74 years, 272 days | 31,335 days (85 years, 289 days) | 2nd of 2 Has held record as oldest winner for 10 award ceremonies (from the 77th through the 87th, February 2005–February 2015) | |
80 | Ang Lee | Brokeback Mountain | October 23, 1954 | March 5, 2006 | 51 years, 133 days | 22,424 days (61 years, 144 days) | 1st of 2 | |
81 | Martin Scorsese | The Departed | November 17, 1942 | February 25, 2007 | 64 years, 100 days | 26,782 days (73 years, 119 days) | ||
82 | Ethan Coen | No Country for Old Men | September 21, 1957 | February 24, 2008 | 50 years, 156 days | 21,360 days (58 years, 176 days) | Shared | |
83 | Joel Coen | No Country for Old Men | November 29, 1954 | February 24, 2008 | 53 years, 87 days | 22,387 days (61 years, 107 days) | Shared | |
84 | Danny Boyle | Slumdog Millionaire | October 20, 1956 | February 22, 2009 | 52 years, 125 days | 21,696 days (59 years, 147 days) | ||
85 | Kathryn Bigelow | The Hurt Locker | November 27, 1951 | March 7, 2010 | 58 years, 100 days | 23,485 days (64 years, 109 days) | ||
86 | Tom Hooper | The King's Speech | October 1, 1972 | February 27, 2011 | 38 years, 149 days | 15,871 days (43 years, 166 days) | ||
87 | Michel Hazanavicius | The Artist | March 29, 1967 | February 26, 2012 | 44 years, 334 days | 17,884 days (48 years, 352 days) | ||
88 | Ang Lee | Life of Pi | October 23, 1954 | February 24, 2013 | 58 years, 124 days | 22,424 days (61 years, 144 days) | 2nd of 2 | |
89 | Alfonso Cuaron | Gravity | November 28, 1961 | March 2, 2014 | 52 years, 94 days | 19,831 days (54 years, 108 days) | ||
90 | Alejandro González Iñárritu | Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) | August 15, 1963 | February 22, 2015 | 51 years, 191 days | 19,206 days (52 years, 213 days) | 1st of 2 | |
91 | Alejandro González Iñárritu | The Revenant | August 15, 1963 | February 28, 2016 | 52 years, 197 days | 19,206 days (52 years, 213 days) | 2nd of 2 | |
# | Director | Film | Date of birth | Date of award | Age upon receiving award |
Date of death | Lifespan | Notes |
- ↑ Official website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ↑ Official ceremony promotional website for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ↑ Official database website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- 1 2 The first Best Directing Oscar was divided between Comedy and Dramatic films.
- 1 2 3 Frank Capra (lifespan 94 years, 108 days) is one of three directors (alongside Billy Wilder and Elia Kazan) to have lived over 55 years (56 years, 188 days) after receiving the award.
- ↑ Victor Fleming (lifespan 59 years, 318 days) is one of two directors (alongside Carol Reed) to have lived less than 10 years (8 years, 312 days) after receiving the award.
- 1 2 Billy Wilder holds the record for longest lifespan (95 years, 278 days). He is one of three directors (alongside Frank Capra and Elia Kazan) to have lived over 55 years (56 years, 20 days) after receiving the award.
- 1 2 Elia Kazan (lifespan 94 years, 21 days) is one of three directors (alongside Billy Wilder and Frank Capra) to have lived over 55 years (55 years, 192 days) after receiving the award.
- ↑ Carol Reed (lifespan 69 years, 117 days) is one of two directors (alongside Victor Fleming) to have lived less than 10 years (7 years, 11 days) after receiving the award.
- ↑ Anthony Minghella holds the record for shortest lifespan (54 years, 72 days).
See also
- Academy Award for Best Directing
- List of Best Actor winners by age
- List of Best Actress winners by age
- List of Best Supporting Actor winners by age
- List of Best Supporting Actress winners by age
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
External links
- Oscars.org (official Academy site)
- Oscar.com (official ceremony promotional site)
- The Academy Awards Database (official site)
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