Who has won the most Academy Awards for Best Director?
John Ford holds the record with four wins, more than any other director. Frank Capra and William Wyler each won three times.
Questions about Academy Award for Best Director
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many women have won the Academy Award for Best Director?
Three women have won the Academy Award for Best Director. Kathryn Bigelow was the first, for The Hurt Locker. Jane Campion won for The Power of the Dog in 2021, and Chloé Zhao won for Nomadland in 2020.
Who was the first woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director?
Lina Wertmüller was the first woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, for Seven Beauties in 1976. Nearly five decades passed from the award's founding before her nomination appeared on the ballot.
Which director has the most Academy Award for Best Director nominations without winning?
Clarence Brown received six nominations for Best Director without ever winning, the most of any director who never took the prize. Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Altman, and King Vidor each received five nominations without a win.
Who is the youngest person to win the Academy Award for Best Director?
Damien Chazelle is the youngest winner, having received the prize for La La Land at 32 years and 38 days old. The youngest nominee was John Singleton, who was 24 years and 44 days old when nominated for Boyz n the Hood in 1991.
Which directors won the Academy Award for Best Director on their feature film debut?
Six directors won the award on their debut feature: Delbert Mann for Marty in 1955, Jerome Robbins for West Side Story in 1961, Robert Redford for Ordinary People in 1980, James L. Brooks for Terms of Endearment in 1983, Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves in 1990, and Sam Mendes for American Beauty in 1999.