Welcome to Cinema Awards Archive, where awards season never really ends.
Some actors have Oscars, some have Emmys, a few have Grammys or Tonys — but only a tiny handful ever win all four. Tonight, we’re talking about the legends who almost did it.
These are the top 10 actors who came agonisingly close to completing their EGOT and are still missing just one piece of the puzzle.
This article is adapted from my full YouTube breakdown on Cinema Awards Central.
Prefer to watch instead of read? This breakdown comes from my YouTube episode on Cinema Awards Central, where we go through each almost‑EGOT with clips and extra context.
Watch the video above if it’s embedded, or search for “So Close to EGOT Glory: Top 10 Actors Missing Just One” on the channel.
Why she’s so close: Kate Winslet is one of the most decorated actors of her generation, with multiple Emmys for prestige TV work and an Oscar win for The Reader. She has also earned a Grammy in spoken‑word and soundtrack‑related categories, which means she already holds three of the four awards needed for an EGOT.
Despite her stage roots in the UK, Winslet has never claimed a Broadway Tony, making her one of the most high‑profile almost‑EGOT actors currently working.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2011 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Mildred Pierce.
2021 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Mare of Easttown.
🏆 Grammy Awards
2000 – Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Listen to the Storyteller.
🏆 Oscar Awards
2009 – Best Actress for The Reader.
🏆 The missing piece: Tony Award.
Why she’s so close: Julie Andrews is Hollywood royalty, with an Oscar for Mary Poppins, multiple Grammys and an enduring reputation as one of the greatest musical performers of all time. She has a long, celebrated connection to Broadway and the West End, originating iconic roles before her film career.
Yet Andrews has never secured a competitive Tony Award. Despite nominations and massive influence — plus later vocal issues that changed her career path — she stands as one of the most surprising “should‑have‑been EGOT” stories.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
1973 – Outstanding Variety Musical Series for The Julie Andrews Hour.
2005 – Outstanding Non‑Fiction Series for Broadway: The American Musical.
2025 – Outstanding Character Voiceover Performance for Bridgerton episode “Into the Light”.
🏆 Oscar Awards
1964 – Best Actress for Mary Poppins.
🏆 Grammy Awards
1965 – Best Recording for Children for Mary Poppins.
2011 – Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies.
🏆 The missing piece: Tony Award.
Why he’s so close: Al Pacino has conquered almost everything an actor can: an Oscar for Scent of a Woman, Tony Awards for his stage work and Emmys for prestige TV projects. That combination gives him the classic “triple crown” of acting, plus major television success.
But Pacino has never won a Grammy, leaving him one award short of EGOT status. Unless he leans harder into audiobooks or spoken‑word recordings, he may stay on the “almost” side of EGOT history.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2004 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Angels in America.
2010 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for You Don’t Know Jack.
🏆 Oscar Awards
1993 – Best Actor for Scent of a Woman.
🏆 Tony Awards
1969 – Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play for Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?
1977 – Best Leading Actor in a Play for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.
🏆 The missing piece: Grammy Award.
Why she’s so close: Helen Mirren has an Oscar for The Queen, multiple Emmys and a Tony Award for her stage work, giving her an almost unbeatable acting résumé across film, TV and theatre.
She belongs to the select group of performers who have dominated all three major acting mediums, and her acclaimed narration and voice work make her a natural candidate for a spoken‑word Grammy — but as of now, she remains one trophy shy of EGOT glory.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
1996 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Prime Suspect 4: The Scent of Darkness.
1999 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for The Passion of Ayn Rand.
2006 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Elizabeth I.
2006 – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Prime Suspect: The Final Act.
🏆 Oscar Awards
2007 – Best Actress for The Queen.
🏆 Tony Awards
2015 – Best Actress in a Play for The Audience.
🏆 The missing piece: Grammy Award.
Why he’s so close: Jeremy Irons has an Oscar for Reversal of Fortune, Emmys for high‑profile TV work and a Tony for his stage performances. He’s another member of the elite group who’ve swept film, TV and theatre’s top acting honours.
What he does not have is a Grammy, leaving him one award shy of EGOT. With decades of acclaimed work and a distinctive voice seemingly tailor‑made for narration, one major audiobook or spoken‑word project could finally push him over the line.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
1997 – Outstanding Voice‑Over Performance for The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century: War Without End.
2006 – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Elizabeth I.
2014 – Outstanding Narrator for Game of Lions.
🏆 Oscar Awards
1991 – Best Actor for Reversal of Fortune.
🏆 Tony Awards
1984 – Best Actor in a Play for The Real Thing.
🏆 The missing piece: Grammy Award.
Why she’s so close: Ellen Burstyn is one of the most respected actors alive, with an Oscar, Emmys and a Tony Award to her name. She frequently appears on “almost‑EGOT” lists for having three of the four major trophies plus a body of work that spans generations.
Burstyn has never won a Grammy. Even though her voice and presence have become iconic in film and theatre history, her legacy is secure with or without that final trophy — but on paper, she might be one of the most deserving non‑EGOT actors ever.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2009 – Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (“Swing”).
2013 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Political Animals.
🏆 Oscar Awards
1974 – Best Actress for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
🏆 Tony Awards
1975 – Best Actress in a Play for Same Time, Next Year.
🏆 The missing piece: Grammy Award.
Why he’s so close: Hugh Jackman is both a blockbuster movie star and a stage‑musical powerhouse. He’s a Tony winner for The Boy from Oz and holds a Grammy for The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
He also has Emmy recognition for his TV and hosting work, giving him three corners of the EGOT square. Jackman came close with an Academy Award nomination for Les Misérables and remains a strong contender to eventually complete the EGOT if the right role comes along.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2005 – Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for hosting the 58th Tony Awards.
🏆 Grammy Awards
2019 – Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Visual Media for The Greatest Showman.
🏆 Tony Awards
2004 – Best Actor in a Musical for The Boy from Oz.
2012 – Special Tony Award.
🏆 The missing piece: Oscar Award.
Why he’s so close: Lin‑Manuel Miranda is a modern theatre titan with multiple Tony Awards and several Grammys for In the Heights, Hamilton and his film songwriting work. He’s also an Emmy winner thanks to his work on televised musical projects.
Miranda has been nominated for Academy Awards for his original songs, coming excruciatingly close to completing his EGOT. If any contemporary multihyphenate feels destined to cross that line, it’s him — but until that first Oscar arrives, he’s officially an “almost.”
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2022 – Children’s and Family Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Program for We the People.
🏆 Grammy Awards
2009 – Best Musical Theater Album for In the Heights.
2016 – Best Musical Theater Album for Hamilton.
2018 – Best Song Written for Visual Media for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.
2023 – Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for Encanto and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.
🏆 Tony Awards
2008 – Best Original Score for In the Heights.
2016 – Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for Hamilton.
🏆 The missing piece: Oscar Award.
Why she’s so close: Cynthia Erivo’s rise has been astonishingly fast. She already has a Tony, Grammy and Emmy, much of it tied to her star‑making work in The Color Purple.
Her combination of acting and powerhouse vocals makes her one of the most versatile performers of her generation. She has received Oscar nominations but hasn’t converted them into a win yet, leaving her one step short of EGOT status — and one of the most likely future EGOTs.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2017 – Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program for The Color Purple.
🏆 Grammy Awards
2017 – Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple.
🏆 Tony Awards
2016 – Best Leading Actress in a Musical for The Color Purple.
🏆 The missing piece: Oscar Award.
Why he’s so close: Billy Porter is a trailblazer who has won a Tony for Kinky Boots, a Grammy for its cast recording and an Emmy for Pose. That triple crown showcases his impact on Broadway, music and television alike.
The missing piece is an Oscar, and Porter has already begun taking on more film roles that could put him in that conversation. He’s a classic example of a modern multi‑talent who feels one great movie away from EGOT immortality.
Major wins:
🏆 Emmy Awards
2019 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Pose.
🏆 Grammy Awards
2014 – Best Musical Theater Album for Kinky Boots.
🏆 Tony Awards
2013 – Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Kinky Boots.
2022 – Best Musical for A Strange Loop (producer).
🏆 The missing piece: Oscar Award.
Which of these almost‑EGOT actors do you think is most likely to finally complete their EGOT?
Did we leave out anyone you think absolutely deserves a spot in a part two? Comment your pick below, like the video and subscribe.
Hit like if you enjoyed this breakdown and subscribe to Cinema Awards Central for more deep dives into the wild world of entertainment awards.
Thanks for watching and see you in the next video.
