Sean Penn is the ninth actor to win two lead Oscars
With his win for "Milk," Sean Penn became the ninth man to have matching lead actor Oscar bookends, having earned his first in 2003 for "Mystic River." While Penn only had to wait five years to win that second Oscar, last year's champ Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood") didn't gain entry to this exclusive club until 18 years after winning his first Oscar in 1989 for "My Left Foot."
The first seven actors to pull off this impressive feat were:
Spencer Tracy ("Captains Courageous" 1937; "Boys Town" 1938);
Fredric March ("Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" 1932; "The Best Years of Our Lives" 1946);
Gary Cooper ("Sergeant York" 1941; "High Noon" 1952);
Marlon Brando ("On the Waterfront" 1954; "The Godfather" 1972);
Dustin Hoffman ("Kramer v. Kramer" 1979; "Rain Man" 1988);
Tom Hanks ("Philadelphia" 1993; "Forrest Gump" 1994); and
Jack Nicholson ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" 1975; "As Good As It Gets" 1997).
Eleven women — Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Hilary Swank — each have two lead actress Oscars. And then there is Katharine Hepburn who reigns supreme with a staggering four lead actress Oscars.
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Photo: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
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Oh sorry Tom, I only looked at the list! How could I ever question you?!
Posted by: Ryan Hoffman | February 24, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Tommy you forgot the greatest actor alive has 2, and he just got the 2nd one last year!
Posted by: Ryan Hoffman | February 24, 2009 at 02:26 PM
God made male and female and took a rib out of Adam and placed into Eve. That is Gods plan no other way!!!
Posted by: Sharon | February 24, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Yo Bob, just because Sean Penn is an advocate for gay marriage, it doesn't make him gay. That's the problem with people like you... you're afraid of your own sexuality. Penn is confident in who he is. Thanks Sean!!
Posted by: Johnny Suede | February 24, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Memo to Sean Penn -- if you believe that homosexual marriage is a lifestyle to be embraced, when can we can expect you to announce your same sex partner?
Posted by: Bob | February 23, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Kenny, the info is correct. Yes, Swank won twice. She won for "Boys Don't Cry" and 'Million Dollar Baby."
That's some pretty elite company Penn is in.
Posted by: StickIt | February 23, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Hilary Swank didnt won two lead actress.
Posted by: Kenny | February 23, 2009 at 06:39 PM