List of Academy Award for Best Director winners by age

Last updated

This is a list of winners of the Academy Award of Merit for Achievement in Directing, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) [1] to a director who has delivered outstanding direction while working on a particular film within the industry. More popularly known as the Academy Award (or the Oscar) for Best Director, this award was initially presented at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony for 1927 and 1928 and was most recently presented at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony for 2020 and early 2021. [2] Throughout the past 93 years, accounting for shared and repeat winners, AMPAS has presented a total of 96 Best Directing awards to 71 different directors. This list is current as of the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony held on April 25, 2021.

Contents

As of April 2021, The list below has 21 directors in their 30s, 40 directors in their 40s, 29 directors in their 50s, 5 directors in their 60s and one director in his seventies during the reception of the award. The youngest director being Damien Chazelle aged 32 years and 68 days during the 2017 Academy Awards ceremony and the oldest being Clint Eastwood who was 74 during the 2005 Academy Awards ceremony.

[3]

List of winners

#
Director
Film
Date of birth
Date of award
Age upon
receiving award
Date of death
Lifespan
Notes
1 Frank Borzage 7th Heaven April 23, 1894May 16, 192935 years, 23 daysJune 19, 196224,893 days (68 years, 57 days)Dramatic; [4] 1st of 2
Held record as oldest winner for 1 award ceremony (from the 1st to the 2nd, May 1929–April 1930 [11 months])
2 Lewis Milestone Two Arabian Knights September 30, 1895May 16, 192933 years, 228 daysSeptember 25, 198031,041 days (84 years, 361 days)Comedy; [4] 1st of 2
Held record as youngest winner for 3 award ceremonies (from the 1st to the 4th, May 1929–November 1931 [2 years, 6 months])
3 Frank Lloyd The Divine Lady February 2, 1886April 3, 193044 years, 60 daysAugust 10, 196027,217 days (74 years, 190 days)1st of 2
Held record as oldest winner for 10 award ceremonies (from the 2nd to the 12th, April 1930–February 1940)
4 Lewis Milestone All Quiet on the Western Front September 30, 1895November 5, 193035 years, 36 daysSeptember 25, 198031,041 days (84 years, 361 days)2nd of 2
5 Norman Taurog Skippy February 23, 1899November 10, 193132 years, 260 daysApril 7, 198129,993 days (82 years, 43 days)Held record as youngest winner for 85 award ceremonies (from the 4th through the 89th, November 1931–February 2017 [85 years, 3 months])
6 Frank Borzage Bad Girl April 23, 1894November 18, 193238 years, 209 daysJune 19, 196224,893 days (68 years, 57 days)2nd of 2
7 Frank Lloyd Cavalcade February 2, 1886March 16, 193448 years, 42 daysAugust 10, 196027,217 days (74 years, 190 days)2nd of 2
8 Frank Capra It Happened One Night May 18, 1897February 27, 193537 years, 285 daysSeptember 3, 199134,440 days (94 years, 108 days) [5] 1st of 3
9 John Ford The Informer February 1, 1894March 5, 193642 years, 33 daysAugust 31, 197329,065 days (79 years, 211 days)1st of 4
10 Frank Capra Mr. Deeds Goes to Town May 18, 1897March 4, 193739 years, 290 daysSeptember 3, 199134,440 days (94 years, 108 days) [5] 2nd of 3
11 Leo McCarey The Awful Truth October 3, 1898March 10, 193839 years, 158 daysJuly 5, 196925,842 days (70 years, 275 days)1st of 2
12 Frank Capra You Can't Take It with You May 18, 1897February 23, 193941 years, 281 daysSeptember 3, 199134,440 days (94 years, 108 days) [5] 3rd of 3
13 Victor Fleming Gone with the Wind February 23, 1889February 29, 194051 years, 6 daysJanuary 6, 194921,866 days (59 years, 318 days) [6] Held record as oldest winner for 4 award ceremonies (from the 12th to the 16th, February 1940–March 1944)
14 John Ford The Grapes of Wrath February 1, 1894February 27, 194147 years, 26 daysAugust 31, 197329,065 days (79 years, 211 days)2nd of 4
15 John Ford How Green Was My Valley February 1, 1894February 26, 194248 years, 25 daysAugust 31, 197329,065 days (79 years, 211 days)3rd of 4
16 William Wyler Mrs. Miniver July 1, 1902March 4, 194340 years, 246 daysJuly 27, 198128,881 days (79 years, 26 days)1st of 3
17 Michael Curtiz Casablanca December 24, 1886March 2, 194457 years, 69 daysApril 10, 196227,500 days (75 years, 107 days)Held record as oldest winner for 9 award ceremonies (from the 16th to the 25th, March 1944–March 1953)
18 Leo McCarey Going My Way October 3, 1898March 15, 194546 years, 163 daysJuly 5, 196925,842 days (70 years, 275 days)2nd of 2
19 Billy Wilder The Lost Weekend June 22, 1906March 7, 194639 years, 258 daysMarch 27, 200234,977 days (95 years, 278 days) [7] 1st of 2
20 William Wyler The Best Years of Our Lives July 1, 1902March 13, 194744 years, 255 daysJuly 27, 198128,881 days (79 years, 26 days)2nd of 3
21 Elia Kazan Gentleman's Agreement September 7, 1909March 20, 194838 years, 195 daysSeptember 28, 200334,354 days (94 years, 21 days) [8] 1st of 2
22 John Huston The Treasure of the Sierra Madre August 5, 1906March 24, 194942 years, 231 daysAugust 28, 198729,608 days (81 years, 23 days)
23 Joseph L. Mankiewicz A Letter to Three Wives February 11, 1909March 23, 195041 years, 40 daysFebruary 5, 199330,675 days (83 years, 360 days)1st of 2
24 Joseph L. Mankiewicz All About Eve February 11, 1909March 29, 195142 years, 46 daysFebruary 5, 199330,675 days (83 years, 360 days)2nd of 2
25 George Stevens A Place in the Sun December 18, 1904March 20, 195247 years, 93 daysMarch 8, 197525,647 days (70 years, 80 days)1st of 2
26 John Ford The Quiet Man February 1, 1894March 19, 195359 years, 46 daysAugust 31, 197329,065 days (79 years, 211 days)4th of 4
Held record as oldest winner for 12 award ceremonies (from the 25th to the 37th, March 1953–April 1965)
27 Fred Zinnemann From Here to Eternity April 29, 1907March 25, 195446 years, 330 daysMarch 14, 199732,827 days (89 years, 319 days)1st of 2
28 Elia Kazan On the Waterfront September 7, 1909March 30, 195545 years, 204 daysSeptember 28, 200334,354 days (94 years, 21 days) [8] 2nd of 2
29 Delbert Mann Marty January 30, 1920March 21, 195636 years, 51 daysNovember 11, 200732,062 days (87 years, 285 days)
30 George Stevens Giant December 18, 1904March 27, 195752 years, 99 daysMarch 8, 197525,647 days (70 years, 80 days)2nd of 2
31 David Lean The Bridge on the River Kwai March 25, 1908March 26, 195850 years, 1 dayApril 16, 199130,337 days (83 years, 22 days)1st of 2
32 Vincente Minnelli Gigi February 28, 1903April 6, 195956 years, 37 daysJuly 25, 198630,463 days (83 years, 147 days)
33 William Wyler Ben-Hur July 1, 1902April 4, 196057 years, 278 daysJuly 27, 198128,881 days (79 years, 26 days)3rd of 3
34 Billy Wilder The Apartment June 22, 1906April 17, 196154 years, 299 daysMarch 27, 200234,977 days (95 years, 278 days) [7] 2nd of 2
35 Jerome Robbins West Side Story October 11, 1918April 9, 196243 years, 180 daysJuly 29, 199829,146 days (79 years, 291 days)Shared
36 Robert Wise West Side Story September 10, 1914April 9, 196247 years, 211 daysSeptember 14, 200533,242 days (91 years, 4 days)Shared; 1st of 2
37 David Lean Lawrence of Arabia March 25, 1908April 8, 196355 years, 14 daysApril 16, 199130,337 days (83 years, 22 days)2nd of 2
38 Tony Richardson Tom Jones June 5, 1928April 13, 196435 years, 313 daysNovember 14, 199123,172 days (63 years, 162 days)
39 George Cukor My Fair Lady July 7, 1899April 5, 196565 years, 272 daysJanuary 24, 198330,516 days (83 years, 201 days)Held record as oldest winner for 38 award ceremonies (from the 37th to the 75th, April 1965–March 2003)
40 Robert Wise The Sound of Music September 10, 1914April 18, 196651 years, 220 daysSeptember 14, 200533,242 days (91 years, 4 days)2nd of 2
41 Fred Zinnemann A Man for All Seasons April 29, 1907April 10, 196759 years, 346 daysMarch 14, 199732,827 days (89 years, 319 days)2nd of 2
42 Mike Nichols The Graduate November 6, 1931April 10, 196836 years, 156 daysNovember 19, 201430,329 days (83 years, 13 days)
43 Carol Reed Oliver! December 30, 1906April 14, 196962 years, 105 daysApril 25, 197625,319 days (69 years, 117 days) [9]
44 John Schlesinger Midnight Cowboy February 16, 1926April 7, 197044 years, 50 daysJuly 25, 200328,283 days (77 years, 159 days)
45 Franklin J. Schaffner Patton May 30, 1920April 15, 197150 years, 320 daysJuly 2, 198925,235 days (69 years, 33 days)
46 William Friedkin The French Connection August 29, 1935April 10, 197236 years, 225 days31,453 days (86 years, 41 days)
47 Bob Fosse Cabaret June 23, 1927March 27, 197345 years, 277 daysSeptember 23, 198722,007 days (60 years, 92 days)
48 George Roy Hill The Sting December 20, 1921April 2, 197452 years, 103 daysDecember 27, 200229,592 days (81 years, 7 days)
49 Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather Part II April 7, 1939April 8, 197536 years, 1 day30,136 days (82 years, 185 days)
50 Miloš Forman One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest February 18, 1932March 29, 197644 years, 40 daysApril 14, 201831,467 days (86 years, 55 days)1st of 2
51 John G. Avildsen Rocky December 21, 1935March 28, 197741 years, 97 daysJune 16, 201729,763 days (81 years, 177 days)
52 Woody Allen Annie Hall December 1, 1935April 3, 197842 years, 123 days31,359 days (85 years, 312 days)
53 Michael Cimino The Deer Hunter February 3, 1939April 9, 197940 years, 65 daysJuly 2, 201628,274 days (77 years, 150 days)
54 Robert Benton Kramer vs. Kramer September 29, 1932April 14, 198047 years, 198 days32,517 days (89 years, 10 days)
55 Robert Redford Ordinary People August 18, 1936March 31, 198144 years, 225 days31,098 days (85 years, 52 days)
56 Warren Beatty Reds March 30, 1937March 29, 198244 years, 364 days30,874 days (84 years, 193 days)
57 Richard Attenborough Gandhi August 29, 1923April 11, 198359 years, 225 daysAugust 24, 201433,233 days (90 years, 360 days)
58 James L. Brooks Terms of Endearment May 9, 1940April 9, 198443 years, 336 days29,738 days (81 years, 153 days)
59 Miloš Forman Amadeus February 18, 1932March 25, 198553 years, 35 daysApril 14, 201831,467 days (86 years, 55 days)2nd of 2
60 Sydney Pollack Out of Africa July 1, 1934March 24, 198651 years, 266 daysMay 26, 200826,993 days (73 years, 330 days)
61 Oliver Stone Platoon September 15, 1946March 30, 198740 years, 196 days27,418 days (75 years, 24 days)1st of 2
62 Bernardo Bertolucci The Last Emperor March 16, 1940April 11, 198848 years, 26 daysNovember 26, 201828,744 days (78 years, 255 days)
63 Barry Levinson Rain Man April 6, 1942March 27, 198946 years, 355 days29,041 days (79 years, 186 days)
64 Oliver Stone Born on the Fourth of July September 15, 1946March 26, 199043 years, 192 days27,418 days (75 years, 24 days)2nd of 2
65 Kevin Costner Dances with Wolves January 18, 1955March 25, 199136 years, 66 days24,371 days (66 years, 264 days)
66 Jonathan Demme The Silence of the Lambs February 22, 1944March 30, 199248 years, 37 daysApril 26, 201726,727 days (73 years, 63 days)
67 Clint Eastwood Unforgiven May 31, 1930March 29, 199362 years, 302 days33,369 days (91 years, 131 days)1st of 2
68 Steven Spielberg Schindler's List December 18, 1946March 21, 199447 years, 93 days27,324 days (74 years, 295 days)1st of 2
69 Robert Zemeckis Forrest Gump May 14, 1951March 27, 199543 years, 317 days25,716 days (70 years, 148 days)
70 Mel Gibson Braveheart January 3, 1956March 25, 199640 years, 82 days24,021 days (65 years, 279 days)
71 Anthony Minghella The English Patient January 6, 1954March 24, 199743 years, 77 daysMarch 18, 200819,795 days (54 years, 72 days) [10]
72 James Cameron Titanic August 16, 1954March 23, 199843 years, 219 days24,526 days (67 years, 54 days)
73 Steven Spielberg Saving Private Ryan December 18, 1946March 21, 199952 years, 93 days27,324 days (74 years, 295 days)2nd of 2
74 Sam Mendes American Beauty August 1, 1965March 26, 200034 years, 238 days20,523 days (56 years, 69 days)
75 Steven Soderbergh Traffic January 14, 1963March 25, 200138 years, 70 days21,453 days (58 years, 268 days)
76 Ron Howard A Beautiful Mind March 1, 1954March 24, 200248 years, 23 days24,694 days (67 years, 222 days)
77 Roman Polanski The Pianist August 18, 1933March 23, 200369 years, 217 days32,194 days (88 years, 52 days)Held record as oldest winner for 2 award ceremonies (from the 75th to the 77th, March 2003–February 2005)
78 Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King October 31, 1961February 29, 200442 years, 121 days21,893 days (59 years, 343 days)
79 Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby May 31, 1930February 27, 200574 years, 272 days33,369 days (91 years, 131 days)2nd of 2
Has held record as oldest winner for 17 award ceremonies (from the 77th through the 93rd, February 2005–April 2021)
80 Ang Lee Brokeback Mountain October 23, 1954March 5, 200651 years, 133 days24,458 days (66 years, 351 days)1st of 2
81 Martin Scorsese The Departed November 17, 1942February 25, 200764 years, 100 days28,816 days (78 years, 326 days)
82 Ethan Coen No Country for Old Men September 21, 1957February 24, 200850 years, 156 days23,394 days (64 years, 18 days)Shared
83 Joel Coen No Country for Old Men November 29, 1954February 24, 200853 years, 87 days24,421 days (66 years, 314 days)Shared
84 Danny Boyle Slumdog Millionaire October 20, 1956February 22, 200952 years, 125 days23,730 days (64 years, 354 days)
85 Kathryn Bigelow The Hurt Locker November 27, 1951March 7, 201058 years, 100 days25,519 days (69 years, 316 days)
86 Tom Hooper The King's Speech October 1, 1972February 27, 201138 years, 149 days17,905 days (49 years, 8 days)
87 Michel Hazanavicius The Artist March 29, 1967February 26, 201244 years, 334 days19,918 days (54 years, 194 days)
88 Ang Lee Life of Pi October 23, 1954February 24, 201358 years, 124 days24,458 days (66 years, 351 days)2nd of 2
89 Alfonso Cuarón Gravity November 28, 1961March 2, 201452 years, 94 days21,865 days (59 years, 315 days)1st of 2
90 Alejandro González Iñárritu Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) August 15, 1963February 22, 201551 years, 191 days21,240 days (58 years, 55 days)1st of 2
91 Alejandro González Iñárritu The Revenant August 15, 1963February 28, 201652 years, 197 days21,240 days (58 years, 55 days)2nd of 2
92 Damien Chazelle La La Land January 19, 1985February 26, 201732 years, 38 days13,412 days (36 years, 263 days)Holds record for youngest winner
93 Guillermo del Toro The Shape of Water October 9, 1964March 4, 201853 years, 146 days20,819 days (57 years, 0 days)
94 Alfonso Cuarón Roma November 28, 1961February 24, 201957 years, 88 days21,865 days (59 years, 315 days)2nd of 2
95 Bong Joon-Ho Parasite September 14, 1969February 9, 202050 years, 148 days19,018 days (52 years, 25 days)
96 Chloé Zhao Nomadland March 31, 1982April 25, 202139 years, 25 days14,437 days (39 years, 192 days)
#DirectorFilmDate of birthDate of awardAge upon
receiving award
Date of deathLifespanNotes
  1. Official website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  2. Official ceremony promotional website for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  3. Official database website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 The first Best Directing Oscar was divided between Comedy and Dramatic films.
  5. 1 2 3 Frank Capra (lifespan 94 years, 108 days) is one of three directors (alongside Billy Wilder and Elia Kazan) to have lived over 55 years (56 years, 188 days) after receiving the award.
  6. Victor Fleming (lifespan 59 years, 318 days) is one of two directors (alongside Carol Reed) to have lived less than 10 years (8 years, 312 days) after receiving the award.
  7. 1 2 Billy Wilder holds the record for longest lifespan (95 years, 278 days). He is one of three directors (alongside Frank Capra and Elia Kazan) to have lived over 55 years (56 years, 20 days) after receiving the award.
  8. 1 2 Elia Kazan (lifespan 94 years, 21 days) is one of three directors (alongside Billy Wilder and Frank Capra) to have lived over 55 years (55 years, 192 days) after receiving the award.
  9. Carol Reed (lifespan 69 years, 117 days) is one of two directors (alongside Victor Fleming) to have lived less than 10 years (7 years, 11 days) after receiving the award.
  10. Anthony Minghella holds the record for shortest lifespan (54 years, 72 days).

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