EGOT remains the most coveted status in Hollywood since it was first coined in the 80s. Yet, only a handful of celebrities have managed to snag the four prestigious awards making up the title.
Since “Miami Vice” star, Phillip Michael stated his ambitions to win the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award in 1984, the word EGOT has become somewhat a right of passage to become a Hollywood royalty. To date, it is the most coveted award in Hollywood and has seen only a handful of people snag it.
Interestingly, not even the coiner of the word was able to snag the title throughout his career, despite wearing a gold chain bearing the E.G.O.T inscription as motivation. In fact, when Michael birthed the EGOT legend, only three celebrities had achieved the feat at the time.
Almost four decades later, only 13 others have joined the legendary train, winning at least an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar Award, and a Tony Award. Below is a list of the sixteen stars who have attained the EGOT status so far.
1. RICHARD RODGERS
Musical Theatre composer Richard Rodgers was the first-ever to snag the coveted title, having crossed the milestone in 1962 with his first and only Emmy win.
He won the Primetime Emmy Award that year in the Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composed for the song, “Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years.”
His first Grammy Award came in 1960 when he won the Best Show Album (Original Cast) for his work on “The Sound Of Music.”
He landed the award again in 1962 in the Best Original Cast Show Album category for his work on “No Strings.”
In 1945, Rodgers took home the Academy Award for Best Musical for his work on “South Pacific.”
Rodgers has six Tony Awards. He landed his first three in 1950 in the Best Musical, Tony Award For Producers, and Best Score for “South Pacific.”
He won the award again in1952 for Best Musical, in 1960 for Best Musical, and in 1962 for Best Composer.
2. HELEN HAYES
Reputed as the first lady of American Theatre, Helen Hayes became an EGOT winner in 1977 owing to her Grammy win.
In 1953, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress for her performance on “Not A Chance.”
Her Grammy win was in the Best Spoken Word Recording category for “Great American Documents.”
Hayes, a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, has two Academy Awards. She snagged her first in 1932 for her leading role on “The Sin Of Madelon Claudet.” The second came in 1970for her role in “Airport.”
Additionally, she has two Tonys, landing the first in 1947 and the second in 1958, both in the Best Actress category.
3. RITA MORENO
Actress, Rita Moreno is a living legend thanks to her remarkable works in entertainment evident in her EGOT status.
She earned a Primetime Emmy Award in 1977 for her performance on “The Muppet Show.” She won the award a year later for her appearance on “The Paper Palace.”
Moreno has an Oscar Award which she earned in 1962 for her performance on “West Side Story.”
In 1975, she earned a Tony for starring in the play, “The Ritz.”
4. JOHN GIELGUD
British actor, John Gielgud was the first EGOT winner from the LGBTQ community. He earned the status at the age of 87, following his 1991 Emmy win, making him the oldest person ever to achieve the award.
He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special in 1991. His Grammy win came in 1979 for his work on “Ages Of Man.”
In 1981, he became an Oscar winner after snagging the trophy in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category for his role on “Arthur.”
Gielgud has two Tony Awards, winning the first in 1948, and the second in 1961 for his work on “The Importance Of Being Earnest.”
5. AUDREY HEPBURN
Iconic actress, Audrey Hepburn attained her EGOT honor posthumously, following her 1993 Primetime Emmy Win for “Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn.”
That same year, she earned her Grammy Award for her works on “Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales.”
Before that, she held the 1953 Academy Award for Best Actress for appearing on “Roman Holiday.” She landed the 1954 Tony Award in the same category.
6. MARVIN HAMLISCH
Composer and conductor, Marvin Hamlish has two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on “Barbra: The Concert,” which he snagged in 1995. He landed another Emmy in 1999 for “AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies,” and his fourth in 2001 for “Timeless: Live in Concert.”
Additionally, he has four Grammy awards earned in 1974, three Academy Awards from 1973, and the 1976 Tony Award for Best Musical Score.
7. JONATHAN TUNICK
In 1997, Jonathan Tunick joined the league of EGOT winners with his 1997 Tony win. He achieved the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction in 1982.
Tunick’s Grammy win came six years later for his work on “No One Is Alone.” Additionally, he snagged an Oscar win in 1977 and his milestone Tony Award in the Best Orchestrations category for “Titanic.”
8. MEL BROOKS
Legendary comedian, Mel Brooks sealed his EGOT status with four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Grammys, an Academy Award, and three Tony Awards.
While his Tony wins came from his work on “The Producers” in 2001, three of his Emmys came from his appearance on “Mad About you.”
9. MIKE NICHOLS
Actor and Director, Mike Nichols attained his EGOT title in 2001 following two Primetime Emmy wins for his works on “Wit.” He went on to land one more Emmy Award in 2004.
Prior to that, he boasted of one Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance, one Oscar Award for Best Director, and a handful of Tonys.
10. WHOOPI GOLDBERG
Actress and Television host, Whoopi Goldberg became the first black EGOT winner when she earned her Daytime Emmy Award in 2002. She achieved another Daytime Emmy in 2009 for her work on “The View.”
Additionally, Goldberg won the 1986 Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. She claimed the 1991 Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the 2002 Tonys for Best Musical.
11. SCOTT RUDIN
Producer, Scott Rudin attained the EGOT status in 2012 after earning his first and only Grammy Award. He took home the Gramophone for the Best Musical Theater Album category for his work on “The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording.”
He also holds one Primetime Emmy win, one Academy Award-win, and seventeen Tonys, ranking him among the EGOT winners with the most competitive wins.
12. ROBERT LOPEZ
Songwriter, Robert Lopez, known for writing “Let It Go,” on “Frozen,” became the youngest EGOT winner ever in 2014. He was 39 at the time of achieving the feat. Lopez was also the first to have at least two of each award.
Today, the icon holds two Daytime Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, and three Tony Awards.
13. JOHN LEGEND
R&B singer, John Legend became an EGOT winner in 2018 following his Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special. His work on “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert,” alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice won him the award. Notably, the other two singers also achieved their EGOT status on the same day.
Legend won three Grammy awards in 2006, two in 2007, one in 2009, three in 2011, one each in 2016 and 2020. His total of eleven Grammys makes Legend the EGOT titleholder with the most Grammy wins.
The icon won his Academy award in 2015, while his Tony came in 2017.
14. ANDREW LLOYD
Andrew Lloyd became an EGOT winner in 2018 following his Primetime Emmy win alongside John Legend.
Before that, he boasted of three Grammy Awards, one Academy Award, and six Tony Awards.
15. TIM RICE
Lyricist and producer, Tim Rice achieved the EGOT status in 2018 in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category.
He has also won five Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and three Tony Awards.
16. ALAN MENKEN
Composer and songwriter, Alan Menken is the latest addition to the league of EGOT winners, having earned his in 2020. He achieved the feat with his Daytime Emmy Award win in the Outstanding Original Song In a Children’s, Young Adult, or Animated Program category.
Additionally, Menken is an eleven-time Grammy winner, eight-time Oscar winner, and one-time Tony Award-winner.
There you have it, a list of all Hollywood celebrities who have achieved the coveted EGOT status in the course of their career.
