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What is the Triple Crown? -

An Academy Award, or Oscar (center), is regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant award in the entertainment industry worldwide. An Emmy Award (right), meanwhile, is a trophy presented annually to recognize achievements in a particular sector of the television industry. A Tony Award (left) recognizes excellence in live Broadway theater.  So, which actors have been awarded all three?

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Glenda Jackson -

British actress Glenda Jackson is the latest movie star to achieve Triple Crown status. In 1970, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Women in Love' (pictured). Her title role in the TV series 'Elizabeth R' garnered two Primetime Emmy awards in 1972, one of which was for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Then in 2018, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in 'Three Tall Women.' She did this after taking a break from acting and embarking on a career in politics, from 1992 to 2015. 

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Viola Davis -

Viola Davis took home the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for 'King Hedley II' in 2001. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 'Fences' in 2016, and in 2015 secured a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for 'How to Get Away with Murder.' Davis is the first black woman to achieve this impressive accolade. She's pictured in 2010 with her second Tony for 'Fences.'

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Jessica Lange -

In 1993, Jessica Lange won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 'Tootsie.' Her first Primetime Emmy Award was for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for 'Grey Gardens' (2009). She's pictured accepting the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for 'Long Day's Journey into Night' (2016).

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Frances McDormand -

Frances McDormand is seen here with her Oscar for Best Actress for 1997's 'Fargo.' In 2011, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for 'Good People.' She achieved the triple crown in 2015 with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 'Olive Kitteridge.'

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Helen Mirren -

British actress Helen Mirren's Triple Crown run began with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for 'Prime Suspect 4: The Scent of Darkness' (1996). In 2007, she took home a Best Actress Oscar for 'The Queen.' Her Tony Award in 2015 was for Best Actress in a Play for 'The Audience.' Mirren is the only performer to have secured both the American Triple Crown and its British equivalent—a BAFTA film award, a BAFTA television award, and a Laurence Olivier Award.

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Christopher Plummer (1929–2021) -

Christopher Plummer is to date the last actor to be honored with the Triple Crown. The Canadian won a Tony Award back in 1974 for Best Actor in a Musical for 'Cyrano.' In 1977, he won the Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Actor – Limited Series or a Movie for 'Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers.' And he finally hoisted an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 'Beginners' (2012).

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Ellen Burstyn -

In 1974, Ellen Burstyn won a Best Actress Oscar for 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.' The following year, she garnered a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for 'Same Time, Next Year.' And in 2008, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for 'Law & Order: SVU' (2009).

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Geoffrey Rush -

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush lifted the Academy Award for Best Actor for 'Shine' in 1996. In 2005, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.' His Triple Crown came with the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for 'Exit the King' (2009).

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Al Pacino -

Al Pacino took home the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?' in 1969. His Best Actor Oscar was for 'Scent of a Woman' (1993). His Primetime Emmy was awarded in 2004 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie in recognition of his role in 'Angels in America' (2004).

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Maggie Smith -

The 1969 Academy Award for Best Actress was won by British actress Maggie Smith for her performance in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.' She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for 'Lettice and Lovage' in 1990. Her first Outstanding Lead Actress Primetime Emmy Award came in 2003 for 'My House in Umbria.' Smith in fact has the most Triple Crown wins, with seven awards. She's pictured with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 'California Suite' (1978).

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Vanessa Redgrave -

British actress Vanessa Redgrave won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1977 for 'Julia.' Her Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie for 'Playing for Time' followed in 1981. In 2003, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for 'Long Day's Journey into Night' (2003)—the same role that secured Jessica Lange her Triple Crown!

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Anne Bancroft (1931–2005) -

Anne Bancroft won her first Tony in 1958 for Best Featured Actress in a Play for 'Two for the Seesaw.' In 1963, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'The Miracle Worker.' She garnered her first Primetime Emmy in 1970 in 'Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man,' winning in the Outstanding Variety or Musical Program – Variety and Popular Music category. She's pictured still on stage and in costume receiving her Oscar for 'The Miracle Worker' from Joan Crawford.

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Jeremy Irons -

In 1984, British actor Jeremy Irons won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for 'The Real Thing.' His Best Actor Oscar win came in  1990 with 'Reversal of Fortune.' He completed the Triple Crown in 1997 with his Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century.'

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Jessica Tandy (1909–1994) -

Jessica Tandy's first Tony Award for Best Actress was for her role as Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' in 1947. In 1987, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for 'Foxfire.' Her Best Actress Oscar win came in 1989 for 'Driving Miss Daisy.'

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Jason Robards (1922–2000) -

Jason Robards won the Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his work in 'The Disenchanted' (1959). A Best Supporting Actor Oscar was secured for 'All the President's Men' (1976), and he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in the television film 'Inherit the Wind' (1988).

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Maureen Stapleton (1925–2006) -

The 1951 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play went to Maureen Stapleton for 'The Rose Tattoo.' Similarly, the 1967 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama also went to Stapleton for 'Among the Paths to Eden.' And she hoisted the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 'Reds' (1981).

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Rita Moreno -

Rita Moreno's road to the Triple Crown began with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress win for 'West Side Story' (1961). In 1975, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for 'The Ritz.' Two years later, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in 'The Muppet Show.'

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Jack Albertson (1907–1981) -

For his performance in the 1964 play 'The Subject Was Roses' and its 1968 film adaptation, Albertson won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Alberston completed his Triple Crown in 1976 with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for 'Chico and the Man.'

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Paul Scofield (1922–2008) -

British actor Paul Scofield (pictured right) received the 1962 Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Sir Thomas Moore in 'A Man for All Seasons.' Four years later, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor when he reprised the role in the 1966 film adaptation. His Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie was achieved for the 1969 television film 'Male of the Species.' He's pictured with Diahann Carroll, Robert Morse, and Margaret Leighton.

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Melvyn Douglas (1901–1981) -

A Tony Award for his Broadway lead role in the 1960 play 'The Best Man,' a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 'Hud' in 1963, and an Emmy for his 1967 role in 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,' secured Melvyn Douglas his coveted Triple Crown. He's pictured right with Anne Bancroft, Jackie Gleeson, and Mary Martin.

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Shirley Booth (1898–1992) -

Shirley Booth took home a Tony Award in 1949 for Best Featured Actress in a Play for 'Goodbye, My Fancy.' In 1952, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Come Back, Little Sheba.' And in 1962, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Hazel.'

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Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) -

Ingrid Bergman's 1944 Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Gaslight' was followed in 1947 with a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for 'Joan of Lorraine.' The Swedish actress completed her Triple Crown with a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress for 'Startime - The Turn of the Screw' (1960).

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Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962) -

Thomas Mitchell was the first male actor to achieve the Triple Crown, beginning with his 1939 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 'Stagecoach,' followed by a Primetime Emmy for Best Actor in 'The Doctor' (1953), and in the same year a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for 'Hazel Flagg.'

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Helen Hayes (1900–1993) -

And the first performer to achieve the Triple Crown of acting was Helen Hayes. She won the 1932 Academy Award for Best Actress for 'The Sin of Madelon Claudet' (pictured, receiving the Oscar from Louis B. Mayer) before taking home the Tony Award in 1947 for Best Actress in a Play for 'Happy Birthday.' Her Primetime Emmy Award was presented in 1953 for her performance in an episode of 'Medallion Theatre' entitled 'Battle Hymn.'

Sources (NME) (Britannica) (Google Arts & Culture)

See also: Posthumous Oscars: The stars who earned nods and awards after death

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