The Best Supporting Actor Oscar category notoriously skews old — the top 10 oldest are at least 70 with an average of 75.1. That average could tick up this year if the statuette goes to Sam Elliott (“A Star Is Born“), who would be the sixth oldest supporting actor champ ever.
Elliott will be 74 years and 199 days old on Oscar night, and he would knock back Jack Palance (“City Slickers,” 1991) who was 73 years and 41 days old when he showed off his one-handed push-up prowess. The category’s oldest winner, of course, is Christopher Plummer, who was 82 years and 75 days old when he triumphed for “Beginners” (2011) and is also the oldest acting winner in any category. Plummer dethroned George Burns (“The Sunshine Boys,” 1975), who was the only other octogenarian supporting actor champ at 80 years and 69 days.
SEE ‘A Star Is Born’ at the Oscars: How did each version fare with the academy?
Often nicknamed the Career Achievement Award Best Supporting Actor loves to honor veterans and longtime character actors here who haven’t had their due yet. Elliott, who doesn’t even make the top 10 oldest nominees, fits this bill to a T. This is Elliott’s first bid after 50 years in the industry, so there could be a feeling of “Yes, it’s finally his time.” But will that help him get over the line? “A Star Is Born” has underperformed so far this season, so there’s also not a lot of Best Picture heat he could ride either.
Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”), who turns 45 on Feb. 16, is the frontrunner to win his second Best Supporting Actor Oscar in three years after sweeping the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Sixty-one-year-old Richard E. Grant (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”), the critical favorite, is currently in second, followed by Elliott. “BlacKkKlansman” star Adam Driver, who’d be the 11th youngest winner at 35 years and 97 days, is in fourth, and reigning champ Sam Rockwell (“Vice”), 50, is in fifth.
Here are the current top 10 oldest Best Supporting Actor winners:
1. Christopher Plummer, “Beginners” (2011): 82 years, 75 days
2. George Burns, “The Sunshine Boys” (1975): 80 years, 69 days
3. Melvyn Douglas, “Being There” (1979): 79 years, 9 days
4. John Gielgud, “Arthur” (1981): 77 years, 349 days
5. Don Ameche, “Cocoon” (1985): 77 years, 297 days
6. Jack Palance, “City Slickers” (1991): 73 years, 41 days
7. Alan Arkin, “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006): 72 years, 336 days
8. John Houseman, “The Paper Chase” (1973): 71 years, 192 days
9. James Coburn, “Affliction” (1998): 70 years, 202 days
10. Edmund Gwenn, “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): 70 years, 176 days
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