Geoffrey Rush earns acting triple crown with Tony Award win for 'Exit the King'
Geoffrey Rush became the 17th performer to win the acting triple crown of Oscar, Emmy, and Tony awards when he romped to victory tonight as best lead actor in a play. Astonishingly, Geoffrey Rush won each of these prestigious prizes on his first try – the Oscar for "Shine" in 1996, the Emmy for "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" in 2005, and now the Tony for "Exit the King."
Geoffrey Rush not only stars in this acclaimed production of the absurdist play by Eugene Ionesco but translated the text with director Neil Armfield. The Australian actor edged out performances by "God of Carnage" stars Jeff Daniels and James Gandolfini, Raul Esparza – who earned his third consecutive Tony nod for "Speed-the-Plow" – and newcomer Thomas Sadoski ("reasons to be pretty").
Only 2 of the 10 people to pull off the grand slam of all four major showbiz awards won their Oscar, Emmy and Tony for acting — Helen Hayes and Rita Moreno (Hayes got her Grammy for spoken word while Moreno won for children's album). An additional 14 performers have won these top honors for their skills as thespians — Jack Albertson, Anne Bancroft, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Booth, Melvyn Douglas, Jeremy Irons, Thomas Mitchell, Al Pacino, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Robards, Paul Scofield, Maggie Smith, Maureen Stapleton and Jessica Tandy.
Photo: Ethel Barrymore Theatre
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Liza has 4 Tonys! One for FLORA, one for THE ACT, one for LIVE At THE WINTER GARDEN, one for LIZA's AT THE PALACE.
Posted by: Richard Ecker | June 12, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Torrence5: Yes, you misunderstood the article. Out of the 10 people who have won the grand slam (a Tony , an Emmy, an Oscar and a Grammy), only 2 of them won their Tony, their Emmy and their Oscar for acting. (The other 8 presumably won at least one of those awards for directing, or for performing or writing music). Anyone who did not win a Grammy (like Shirley Booth) is not included in the class of 'grand slam' winners to begin with.
Posted by: Alexis | June 10, 2009 at 08:55 AM
I don't understand the comment in the article..."only 2 of the 10... who won the oscar, emmy, & tony did so for acting" - without doing any research, I know that Shirley Booth won the oscr & toney for acting in "Come back, little Sheeba" & Emmy for best actress in a comedy for "Hazel" -- So did I misunderstand the article or what gives????
Posted by: TORRENCE5 | June 09, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I am confused by the comment in the article that "only 2 of the 10... won their oscar, eemy, & tony for acting" -- this doesn't make sense (for without even looking up info) I know Shirley Booth won acting Tony & Oscar (for "Come back, little Sheeba" & acting Emmy for "Hazel") -- so what gives: is it a misprint or am I missing something??
Posted by: TORRENCE5 | June 09, 2009 at 06:56 AM
I reckon Jennifer Hudson has a shot at the grand slam, having already won an Oscar and a Grammy (before age 30). She seems made for the stage, and one great TV performance and she could indeed join Helen Hayes and Rita Moreno.
Posted by: Brent Rogers | June 08, 2009 at 08:37 PM
You dont mention Liza Minnelli as having won all 3. She has an Emmy for 'Liza with a Z' an Oscar for 'Caberet' and now 3 Tonys.
Posted by: Richard D | June 08, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Marcia Gay Harden, a Tony-winner last night, has a fairly good shot at joining this list in just over three months: her supporting turn in 'Damages' could well earn her an Emmy.
Posted by: Alexis | June 08, 2009 at 08:42 AM