15 Stars on the Edge of EGOT: Who’s Just One Award Away from Fame

Achieving the prestigious EGOT status might be challenging, but it’s certainly not unattainable; at least 15 talented individuals across film, television, theater, and music are just one award away from this esteemed recognition. The EGOT is an acronym for the four significant awards in the entertainment field: television (Emmy), music (Grammy), film (Oscar), and theater (Tony). Individuals who have secured at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award are considered EGOT winners. As of May 2025, Rita Moreno, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and Elton John are among the esteemed list of EGOT recipients.

21 individuals have managed to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (also known as the EGOT), although this number expands to 27 when special awards are taken into account. Richard Rodgers, a composer, was the first person to achieve this feat, receiving his final award, an Emmy, in 1962. Among these 21 winners, only one individual, Robert Lopez, songwriter and playwright known for works such as “The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q,” “Frozen,” and “Frozen II,” has been awarded EGOT status twice. Many high-profile artists have amassed a plethora of awards throughout their careers, but still lack one final Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, or Tony Award to be inducted into the exclusive EGOT club.

Hugh Jackman Received an Emmy for Hosting the 2005 Tony Awards

Hugh Jackman has a diverse career that spans film, television, and the stage. His breakthrough role came in the year 2000, and he got his start in Australian theater productions. On stage, he’s played characters such as Gaston in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ from 1995 to 1996, Curly McLain in ‘Oklahoma!’ between 1998 and 1999, and more recently, Professor Harold Hill in ‘The Music Man’ from 2021 to 2023. In the realm of movie musicals, he has taken on leading roles like Jean Valjean in ‘Les Misérables’ (2012) and P.T. Barnum in ‘The Greatest Showman’ (2017).

By the year 2025, Hugh Jackman had amassed two Tonys, an Emmy, and a Grammy to his name. Although he was nominated for the Best Actor category at the 2013 Oscars (for his role as Jean Valjean), he did not take home the prize. Instead, he won the Best Actor in a Musical Tony in 2004 for “The Boy from Oz,” and later received the Special Tony Award in 2012. In 2005, Jackman won an Emmy for hosting the 58th Tony Awards, and he was awarded a Grammy in 2019 when “The Greatest Showman” triumphed in the category of Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Visual Media.

Audra McDonald Has Been Nominated for 11 Tony Awards

Audra McDonald is predominantly recognized for her Broadway performances, but she also boasts a significant career in television and film. Starting from November 2024, McDonald has been playing Rose Hovick in the stage production of ‘Gypsy’, and she’s up for the Best Actress in a Musical award at the upcoming 78th Tony Awards. Among her notable TV roles are those in ‘Private Practice’ (from 2007 to 2013) and Liz Lawrence-Reddick in ‘The Good Fight’ (from 2018 to 2022).

Tony Nomination Category Broadway Show Year Did Audra McDonald Win?
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Carousel 1994 Yes
Best Featured Actress in a Play Master Class 1996 Yes
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Ragtime 1998 Yes
Best Actress in a Musical Marie Christine 2000 No
Best Featured Actress in a Play A Raisin in the Sun 2004 Yes
Best Featured Actress in a Musical 110 in the Shade 2007 No
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Porgy and Bess 2012 Yes
Best Actress in a Play Last Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill 2014 Yes
Best Actress in a Play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune 2020 No
Best Actress in a Play Ohio State Murders 2023 No
Best Actress in a Musical Gypsy 2025 TBD

Audra McDonald boasts six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a single Emmy. In 2009, her Grammy win came from the opera “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.” Over the years, she’s been nominated for five Emmys, securing one in 2015 for “Sweeney Todd (Live From Lincoln Center).” Although McDonald hasn’t achieved the EGOT status, she was recognized with the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Jessica Lange Has Achieved the Triple Crown of Acting

Jessica Lange has been active as an actor for a span of fifty years, majoring in film and television roles. Her acting career commenced in the movie “King Kong” back in 1976. Over this period, she’s accumulated many significant performances, such as playing Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1995) and Big Edie in “Grey Gardens” (2009). Lange has also portrayed multiple characters across various productions. Her stage credits encompass Blanche DuBois in the 1992 and 1996 renditions of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” as well as Amanda Wingfield in the 2005 and 2007 stagings of “The Glass Menagerie.

Jessica Lange is among a select group who have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting – winning a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy in the main acting categories. This prestigious feat has only been accomplished by 24 individuals so far, with Lange being one of them. Moreover, she has garnered five Golden Globe Awards out of her 16 nominations.

Cynthia Nixon Won an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony within Five Years

Cynthia Nixon is primarily recognized for her role as Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, but she has a diverse career beyond acting. In 2018, she ran for Governor of New York against Andrew Cuomo. Outside of the Sex and the City franchise, Nixon’s film and television work includes roles as Rebecca in The Big C (2010-2011), Emily Dickinson in A Quiet Passion (2016), and Nancy Reagan in Killing Reagan (2016). On stage, she has appeared in 12 productions, including Angels in America (1993-1994), Rabbit Hole (2006), and The Little Foxes (2017).

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’d say: Cynthia Nixon has made quite an impressive mark in the world of performing arts. In just five years, she almost completed the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) journey by winning two Emmys for her roles in “Sex and the City” (2004) and “Rabbit Hole” (2006), a Tony for her stage performance in “Rabbit Hole,” and a Grammy for her spoken-word album “An Inconvenient Truth” (2009). She’s also been recognized six times by the Golden Globes between 2000 and 2021, though she hasn’t taken home the trophy yet.

Lily Tomlin was Nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1976

Lily Tomlin may appear to have won an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) due to her diverse career in various media, but it’s important to note that she has not yet achieved a Tony Award. Lily Tomlin began her career in comedy before making a significant impact in Hollywood and collaborating with Jane Fonda on multiple projects. She boasts numerous film and television roles, including Linnea Reese in Nashville (1975), Violet Newstead in 9 to 5 (1980), and Frankie Bergstein in Grace and Frankie (2015-2022). In the theater, Tomlin has participated in three productions: Appearing Nitely (which she wrote and directed in 1977), The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (penned by her future wife Jane Wagner in 1985 and 2000).

If Lily Tomlin manages to win an Oscar, she’ll achieve a rare feat by becoming both an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner and a Triple Crown of Acting recipient. To date, she has earned seven Emmys, two Tonys, and one Grammy. Tomlin was initially nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1976 for her role in Nashville, although Lee Grant took home the award that year. She won a Grammy in 1972 for her comedy album This Is a Recording, and she received the Special Tony Award in 1977, with the other Tony being awarded for her 1985 performance in Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

Julie Andrews Declined Her Third Tony Nomination in 1996

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the remarkable eight-decade journey of Julie Andrews in Tinseltown. Starting as a child actor, she has graced our screens with her enchanting presence in numerous productions. Among these, she played Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” (1956-1959) and Amy in “Putting it Together” (1993).

However, Julie Andrews is most revered for her stellar performances in movie musicals and the beloved “The Princess Diaries” film series. Some of her most iconic movie musical roles include the whimsical Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins” (1964), the resilient Maria von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” (1965), and the strong-willed Anna in “The King and I” (1992).

Julie Andrews has garnered three Grammy Awards, two Emmys, and one Oscar. Despite being nominated for a total of three Tony Awards (for Best Actress in a Musical in “My Fair Lady”, “Camelot”, and “Victor/Victoria”), she remains not an EGOT winner. Interestingly, when Andrews was up for the Tony Award for “Victor/Victoria” in 1996, she chose not to be considered for this award. At that point, Andrews felt that the rest of the “Victor/Victoria” cast had not received enough recognition.

Billy Porter Played Lola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots

Billy Porter initially gained prominence as a skilled Broadway actor, later branching out into cinema and television. Notably, Porter played Lola in the musical “Kinky Boots” and Pray Tell in the series “Pose,” which delves into New York City’s ball culture; moreover, he portrayed the Fairy Godmother (Fairy Godmother) in 2021. Apart from his acting endeavors, Porter is renowned for his distinctive fashion choices; he made a significant impact on the fashion industry by donning a Christian Siriano tuxedo dress to the 2019 Academy Awards.

Billy Porter has claimed a variety of prestigious awards, including an Emmy for acting, a Grammy for music, and two Tonys, one for his performance as Lola in ‘Kinky Boots’ and another for producing the Best Musical of 2022, ‘A Strange Loop’. He made history by winning the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy for his role as Pray Tell in ‘Pose’, marking him as the first Black gay man to achieve this honor.

As a Singer and Actor, Cher Has Won Over 300 Awards

Since 1963, Cher has been a significant figure in the entertainment world. She first rose to prominence as part of the duo Sonny & Cher with her former spouse and late politician, Sonny Bono. Renowned for her successful music career that places her among the top-selling artists globally, she has taken on iconic roles such as Rusty Dennis in ‘Mask’ (1985), Loretta Castorini in ‘Moonstruck’ (1987), Tess Scali in ‘Burlesque’ (2010), and Ruby Sheridan in ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ (2018). Over the years, Cher has also graced various television programs, hosting shows like ‘Cher’ (1975-1976) and ‘The Sonny & Cher Show’ (1976-1977).

Despite accumulating more than 400 nominations across various fields throughout her career, it’s worth noting that Cher has garnered just one Oscar, one Emmy, and one Grammy. She’s been recognized with multiple nods for Oscars (two), Grammys (seven), and Emmys (seven) but has never received a Tony nomination. The musical The Cher Show , which won three Tonys in 2019, was not related to her personally, and although she’s come close, she hasn’t achieved EGOT status due to lacking a single Tony Award. Yet, she has been celebrated with numerous awards for her diverse achievements in music, acting, humanitarian work, and philanthropy.

Kate Winslet Has Only Been in One Theater Production

In my critique, I’ve always admired Kate Winslet for her ability to breathe life into strong, independent women, particularly in historical dramas and romantic films. Over the years, she has graced the screen in numerous blockbuster hits that have captivated audiences worldwide. Among her most memorable performances are Juliet Hulme in “Heavenly Creatures” (1994), Rose DeWitt Bukater in “Titanic” (1996), Clementine Kruczynski in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), Jeanine Matthews in “Divergent” (2014), and Ronal in the latest “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022). On stage, she has delivered a stunning portrayal as Geraldine Barclay in “What the Butler Saw” (1994).

Kate Winslet has achieved remarkable milestones in her career, including an Oscar, a Grammy, and two Emmys. She’s been recognized with seven Oscar nominations and four Emmy nominations. At just 22 years old, when she was nominated for the Best Actress award for her role as Rose in Titanic, she became the youngest actress to receive such a nomination at that time. Although she hasn’t been nominated for a Tony Award, she has become one of the few actors to enter the prestigious Triple Crown of Acting club. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth II honored Winslet with a CBE in 2012 for her significant contributions to film and television culture.

Al Pacino was Nominated for a Grammy in 2001

Acting since 1967, Al Pacino has an extensive theater background but is most famously recognized for his unforgettable portrayals of iconic mobsters in cinema. Working alongside directors like Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Francis Ford Coppola, and Sidney Lumet, Pacino brought to life characters such as Michael Corleone from the Godfather trilogy, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Tony Montana in Scarface (1983), Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice in Dick Tracy (1990), Richard “Ricky” Roma in Glengary Glen Ross (1992), and Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman (2019). On the stage, Pacino has graced numerous productions, including Richard III, Salome, Julius Caesar, American Buffalo, and Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?

Al Pacino accumulated a total of two Emmys, two Tonys, and was also nominated for a Grammy in the Best Spoken Word Album category for “The Complete Shakespeare Sonnets,” sharing this recognition with Patrick Stewart and Kathleen Turner. However, it was Sidney Poitier who took home the Grammy for “The Measure of a Man.” Over the course of his illustrious career, Pacino has amassed an impressive 150 nominations and won 40 awards, including four Golden Globes (five if you count the Cecil B. DeMille Award), two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Drama Desk Awards.

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2025-06-01 03:38