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Liz Smith | 06/12/2008 12:15 pm

And the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy AND Tony Go To ...

Liz Smith
American Profile magazine recently asked its readers to comment on which individual persons have won all four major entertainment awards — the Oscar (movies), the Emmy (television), the Grammy (records) and the Tony (theater).

With the Antoinette Perry Award for theater about to happen on June 15th, maybe it’s time to settle this question about the best of the best.

Here goes: only nine people have been given trophies in competitive categories of all four of these major prize-giving organizations. They are: directors Mel Brooks and Mike Nichols; actor Sir John Gielgud; actresses Helen Hayes, Audrey Hepburn and Rita Moreno; and composers Marvin Hamlisch, Richard Rogers and Jonathan Tunick.

Now, you can add our very own wowOwow comedian Whoopi Goldberg to the mix, provided you will let her daytime Emmy Award count.

Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli can also be added if you will let us count their non-competitive, special-achievement Grammy and Tony awards.

Note: Click here on this text to read my nationally syndicated daily column.



8 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Frank Peterson
goes to….whoever’s spent the most bucks on publicity.
By Frank Peterson on 06/12/2008 2:15 pm
Brooklyn Gal
I love the Tonys. I love Broadway. I love Duffy Square. I love seeing so many people lining up for all the different shows, and hardly ever an empty seat in the house. Movies I can rent. There is nothing like Broadway. So Liz, Do you think you can hook me up with some tix for the upcoming Billy Elliot??
By Brooklyn Gal on 06/12/2008 2:59 pm
Ulla
Yes, Carol L., “there’s nothing like Broadway” … had fun this season so far with “Spring Awakening”, “Sunday in the Park with George” etc. … hoping to be able to afford some more … dear Liz Smith, … always. always love your take on theatre in your column … the Best of the Best, for me it would be Audrey Hepburn … and of course we count Whoopi Goldberg into that group
By Ulla on 06/12/2008 10:54 pm
Bonnie Oliver
Liz, you are asking us to select the Best of the Best ? The mediums are so very different - but I guess I would have to go for Sir John Gielgud, one of my all time favorites. Second place to Helen Hayes and third to Mike Nichols. Very difficult choices. Whom did you select, Liz? Or, would that be too impolitic to say? Probably would.
By Bonnie Oliver on 06/12/2008 4:34 pm
Beverly Poncia
Barbra Streisand! At least she EARNED her Grammy Award, unlike someone else listed in the actress category who shall remain nameless ~ but is always happy to take the credit for being the only one who “won” all four awards. HARUMPH!! Props to Whoopi and Liza as well!
By Beverly Poncia on 06/15/2008 2:21 pm
Ulla
… and wasn’t it fun?!! Whoopi’s the best! and I had so crossed my fingers for Patti LuPone … Yippie!
By Ulla on 06/16/2008 9:27 am