The 21 competitive EGOT winners

Justin Paul has achieved quite a lot. He is particularly known for his collaborations with Benj Pasek, and the two have worked on a number of high-profile productions, including plays like Dear Evan Hansen, TV series like Only Murders in the Building, and La La Land. Like Pasek, Paul has been the recipient of an EGOT, with a Grammy and a Tony for Dear Evan Hansen, an Oscar for La La Land, and an Emmy for Only Murders in the Building. 

Among other things, Benj Pasek has contributed music to such well-known films as The Greatest Showman and La La Land. However, he has also written music for television, including Only Murders in the Building, and for theater, such as the musicals Dogfight and Dear Evan Hansen. His work for Only Murders nabbed him an Emmy, while his work for Evan Hansen netted him both a Tony and a Grammy. 

Jennifer Hudson first became a household name thanks to her appearance on American Idol, and even though she didn’t win her season, she went on to have a remarkable career. Over the years, she’s appeared in major films (including The Secret Life of Bees and Respect) and major theatrical productions (including most notably The Color Purple), and of course, recorded several enormously successful albums. The fact that she’s done all of this while still relatively young is a testament to her extraordinary talent.

The disgraced producer Scott Rudin is rightly regarded as a cautionary tale about the evils of power in Hollywood and entertainment. Before his downfall, though, he’d managed to achieve a striking amount of success, particularly as a producer. This was a man who managed to get an Oscar for helping to produce No Country for Old Men, and he was particularly successful when it came to Broadway, going on to earn a Grammy for the musical The Book of Mormon (for which he also won a Tony). 

In the world of music, few figures are as successful as Elton John. Even if he’d only managed to produce one or two hit albums, he still would have been regarded as a master, but he has many records under his belt and hit singles to match. In addition, he’s racked up several awards for his work, including a Grammy for “That’s What Friends Are For,” an Oscar for his work on The Lion King (on which he collaborated with fellow EGOT winner Tim Rice), and, of course, a Tony for his writing of the music for Aida (on which he also collaborated with Rice).

The songwriter and playwright Robert Lopez has established a well-deserved reputation in the world of musicals. He contributed songs to such blockbusters as Frozen, Frozen II, and Coco. He is remarkably prolific and has racked up a major haul of various awards. He has earned multiple Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, and Grammy Awards. Moreover, he has managed to earn both a Daytime and a Primetime Emmy Award, and he won an Oscar for the beloved song “Let It Go” from Frozen. 

While Whoopi Goldberg might be best known now for her hosting duties on The View, she has one of the most exemplary resumes of anyone in Hollywood. Goldberg first attained fame thanks to her remarkable performances in such films as The Color Purple and Ghost (for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). She has also received numerous other accolades, including a Tony (for her work as a producer on Thoroughly Modern Millie) and a Grammy for the recording of her original comedy special. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of those composers who can truly be said to be a household name. Webber is responsible for some of the biggest hits of the musical theater, including The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Several of his musicals have also been adapted into film, and he won an Oscar for his song “You Must Love Me” from Evita (he won a Tony for the play version). His works continue to draw audiences, even if not every film version, such as Cats, can be considered a success. 

When it comes to great theatrical actors, few can hold a candle to John Gielgud, who was a titan of the stage throughout his life. However, he was nothing if not versatile, and he also made a number of important appearances in films, including in the movie Arthur, for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to his acting credits, he was a director, and he won a Tony for his work in that regard, for directing Big Fish, Little Fish. 

Though primarily known for his music, John Legend has achieved fame in numerous other areas of entertainment. For example, he made a notable appearance in the film La La Land, and he also starred as Jesus in the live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. Unsurprisingly, he has earned several awards throughout his career, including an Emmy for his work in Jesus Christ Superstar. Of course, he also has several Grammy Awards, as well as an Oscar for his song “Glory” for the film Selma. 

It has become accepted wisdom that Viola Davis is one of the most talented actresses in her generation. She’s been in everything from network TV dramas like How to Get Away with Murder (for which she rightly won an Emmy) to major films Fences (for which she won an Oscar) and plays (such as King Hedley II, for which she won the Tony). She’s repeatedly shown that there is nothing that she cannot do and no part in which she doesn’t pour her entire self. 

Rita Moreno is a renaissance woman, as capable of delivering a powerful song in a film like West Side Story as playing a feisty grandmother in a series like One Day at a Time. Of course, she has also had a long and storied career in the American theater, appearing in such plays as The Ritz (for which she won a Tony). Strangely enough, her Emmy was actually for her guest appearance on The Muppet Show, though her many other TV appearances have been equally memorable. 

Old Hollywood fans continue to love Audrey Hepburn, whose waifish looks and exquisite wardrobes remain key to her identity and appeal as a star. However, this shouldn’t obscure her formidable acting talents, and she managed to accrue several awards during her career, including an Oscar for Roman Holiday. She also received a Tony for her work in Ondine and, never one to rest on her laurels, she also achieved a Grammy Award for her album Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales and an Emmy for her television series focusing on gardens.

Few Hollywood figures have attained the level of success as Mel Brooks. Brooks can seemingly do it all, from directing classic films such as Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles to writing for television to appearing as an actor (sometimes in his films). He’s one of those figures who can be both irresistibly charming and irascible, as he shows every time he appears on the screen. Unlike many other comedians who tend to be snubbed by awards bodies, Brooks has accrued an impressive variety of accolades, including an Oscar for his screenplay for The Producers and a Tony for his stage version of The Producers.

Even if Tim Rice had never done anything more than write the lyrics for the songs from The Lion King, this would have earned him a place in the history books. However, Rice has proven remarkably successful in a number of other productions, racking up an Oscar for his song work in the Disney film Aladdin and a Tony for scoring Evita. Combined with the enormous success of The Lion King and its associated soundtrack, it’s understandable why he is regarded as one of the titans of musical theater. 

Alan Menken is a well-known and beloved figure among Disney acolytes, thanks to his key role in the music of some of the studio’s biggest successes of the 1990s. Among the films for which he has provided music are The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. His work on The Little Mermaid has played a major role in his accolades, and he received an Oscar for the song “Under the Sea,” for which he wrote the music. He also received a Tony for his work on the play Newsies.

The late Mike Nichols was a remarkably talented director, earning plaudits for his work on the stage and the screen. While he might be best known for his film The Graduate, for which he received the Oscar for Best Directing, he also directed such screen gems as The Birdcage and the HBO adaptation of Angels in America. He was also a well-regarded director of theater, and he got a Tony for his directing work on Barefoot in the Park. He also earned an Emmy for the made-for-TV movie Wit. 

Helen Hayes was one of those women who could truly do anything. Whether on stage or screen, she had charisma and star power, so it’s not surprising that she managed to attain the Triple Crown of Acting, as well as a Grammy Award. Not for nothing was she referred to as the First Lady of the Theatre, and several theaters were named in her honor, as were the Helen Hayes Awards. She also appeared in several silent and sound films. 

Even though Jonathan Tunick may not be quite a household name, he is still widely respected, largely thanks to his scoring of the songs of Stephen Sondheim. He has repeatedly shown himself to be a truly versatile creator, with work ranging from film to theater. He’s been particularly prolific when it comes to the theater, which helps to explain his numerous Tony Awards nominations (of which he has won two, most recently in 2024). He has also notched a number of other accolades, including an Oscar for his work on A Little Night Music.  

Richard Rodgers was truly a titan in the world of musicals, and along with his collaborator Oscar Hammerstein II, he exerted a powerful influence on the arts, ranging from popular music to theater. Thus, it’s not surprising that he would be one of those who have achieved the competitive EGOT distinction. These include a Tony Award for South Pacific and a Grammy for the cast recording of The Sound of Music. His works remain popular today, and most people have heard of at least one of his famous musicals, whether it be Oklahoma! or The King and I. 

The late Marvin Hamlisch is particularly well-known and regarded for composing works for film and television. However, as his Tony Award for A Chorus Line makes clear, he also had a tremendous influence on the theatrical world (he also received an Oscar nomination for the film version of the play). He also earned not one but two Oscars, as well as several Grammys. As if all of this weren’t enough, he also managed to notch a Pulitzer, which he earned thanks to his work on A Chorus Line.