The Only Actor To Win Two Oscars For The Same Performance

[@SlashFilm]

What do you think is the most underrated Oscar win of all time?

[@bobthebear1246]

Probably non-actor Dr. Haing S. Ngor for _The Killing Fields._ It took me at least 20 years to see it on video and I'm so glad I did. GREAT film and Dr. Ngor *definitely* deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar®. It's so sad how suddenly and brutally his life ended just ten years later. 😢 RIP. 🌹

[@Rorschachqp]

A win is a win. Better question is, who has the most deserving work (performance/piece) that should have won but didn't.

[@iododendron3416]

@@bobthebear1246 Nice tie in, as Harold Russel is the only other non-actor to win an acting oscar.

[@KristineMaitland]

I still think that it time to recognise the work of stunt workers.

[@bugvswindshield]

George C Scott Patton

[@susantownsend8397]

I met Harold Russell in the mid-sixties. I was in the 10th grade and I sat with him at a lunch held for winners in a writing contest featuring essays about birth defects and other physical disabilities. I remember him as a kind, outgoing man with a positive and encouraging outlook on life. Thank you for this inspiring video.

[@py.5831]

The only actor to be nominated for two competitive oscars for the same role in a single film or year, Barry Fitzgerald for "Going My Way", nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor and won the latter.

[@leonardodalongisland]

How did that happen? I'm pretty sure he only played Father Fitzgibbon?

[@py.5831]

@@leonardodalongisland I'm not sure, but maybe back then, some voters considered him as lead with Bing Crosby, some considered him as supporting, and ended up he had enough votes to be nominated in both categories. Academy immediately changed the rule after that, so now the studios can only choose one category to submit for a role in their films for voters to vote

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@py.5831 That's bizarre. And even crazier is that he lost Best Actor (after winning Best Supporting) to his co star!

[@rustincohle2135]

@@py.5831 _"Academy immediately changed the rule after that, so now the studios can only choose one category to submit for a role in their films for voters to vote"_ No, the rule is not that the studio must choose one category to submit their actors for. The rule applies to the ACADEMY, as in the Academy can't grant an actor a nomination in both categories for the same performance. If an actor got enough votes to get a nomination in both categories for the same performance, then whatever category the actor got more votes in will be his/her nomination. Like if an actor needs at least 3000 votes to get nominated for a certain performance, and he got 3010 votes from Academy members who thought he was a lead actor but also got 3020 votes from Academy members who thought his performance was supporting, then he'll be nominated for supporting actor, not lead. Studios can suggest what category they think their actor belongs in, but it's still up to every individual Academy voter (of the actors' branch) to decide what category they feel a certain actor belongs in. For example, LaKeith Stanfield was campaigned by the studio as lead actor for _Judas and the Black Messiah,_ and he got votes in lead actor. But many Academy members felt he'd never get in as lead (as it was a pretty stacked year for Best Actor), so instead enough Academy voters nominated him for supporting and that's how Stanfield got his supporting actor nomination, even though the studio campaigned him as lead.

[@Rhubba]

Peter O'Toole was nominated for the same role twice: As Henry II in "Becket" (1964) and again for the same role in "The Lion In Winter" 1968.

[@dudovich13]

Beautifully written, beautifully acted. One of the best movies ever made.

[@sudipchatterjee]

Harold Russell’s performance in that movie was certainly one of the best that I’ve ever seen. ❤

[@xbubblehead]

Russell held his own with some pretty big Hollywood heavyweights. He deserved the acting Oscar.

[@jbbevan]

Harold Russel is perhaps Oscar's' greatest moment. "The Best Years. of our Lives" is arguably the finest picture for and about its time ever released and for me Russel was the central character and I would not be surprised if Frederic March and Dana Andrews would agree with that. The parts were all well-written but the combination of the writing and Willie Wyler's direction produced a lasting and memorable impression for anyone "feeling the times" back then. As a statement on PTSD, a term not yet formulated at the time, it is 2nd to none. The irony of the picture is that of the three returning vets the one who first won the PTSD war was the least likely: Harold Russel's character Homer Parish. That, for me, makes him the most memorable "supporting actor" in history.

[@aisforapple2494]

Well deserved imo. 'The Best Years Of Our Lives' is a terrific film and a must-watch!

[@nemo227]

I agree. We can all learn much from this movie.

[@haplessasshole9615]

I need to watch it again -- I forgot Hoagy Carmichael was in it. There are many movies you can re-watch and notice new things each time, and _The Best Years of Our Lives_ is absolutely one of them.

[@RMH-nu1dd]

That movie is so amazing. His performance still resonates and it's been over 50 years since I've seen it.

[@michaelterry1000]

I wrote him a fan letter in the 1990s. He sent back an signed photo of himself and thanked me for the letter.

[@samuelbarber6177]

No one really talks about this movie, or this actor, anymore, which is really sad because it’s honestly fantastic. It’s emotional, sensitive, and honestly quite modern for a 1946 film.

[@buddyvilla7393]

About 34 years later Harold Russell appeared in the movie Inside Moves” co- starring with John Savage ,David Morse and Bert Remsen. Harold’s character s name was “Wings”. Late in life he sold his competitive Oscar or auctioned the supporting actor Oscar but kept his honorary Oscar.

[@DrMichaelWidlanski]

Thanks for the wonderful clip and analysis.

[@thomasrobinson182]

Harold Russell was an inspiration to all.

[@CrazyMazapan]

Fascinating story! And excellent video. Well-scripted, sensible and sensitive at the same time. Thank you for your hard work and for sharing this story with us. Subscribed

[@bobthebear1246]

WOW. 😳 I never knew this before. I've heard of _The Best Years Of Our Lives_ but I've never watched it and had no idea what it was about. Now I really need to go see it somewhere as it looks so good. Thank you so much for this great, informative video!!!!

[@9oeoiry4wegdkde83957]

I highly recommend it. It’s one of the great old Hollywood movies. One of the films it beat out for Best Picture was “It’s A Wonderful Life”.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

It’s one of the greatest films of all time. It’s a terrific story and everyone in it is excellent while it’s brilliantly directed. Everyone in it and working in it lived through the War years, there’s just a realism and authenticity about it that you can’t get today in movies set in that period.

[@jeffreywillstewart]

These awkward factors of war are rarely represented. This should be a mandatory viewing. But then again , now we have drones.

[@myrnahuichapan7624]

It's so in your face, it's wonderful! Do yourself a favor.

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

It is a great film.

[@jec1ny]

Great movie. Strongly recommended for anyone who has never seen it.

[@samwst56]

Very much revered movie! The music is also outstanding.

[@ebinrock]

Agreed, but at the same time, I really wish James Stewart could have won for "It's a Wonderful Life".

[@samwst56]

@@ebinrock We watched it a couple nights ago.

[@stevesummers1354]

Harold Russell. True hero… never give up

[@marlenepearson3936]

Harold Russell was amazing 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@dlanska]

This was an excellent discussion. Thank you.

[@deniseeulert2503]

I remember when my mother saw TBYOOL. She didn't know that Harold Russell was actually disabled, and had thought it was special effects.

[@MegaAtomium]

He was so great in this movie.

[@martykarr7058]

Interesting side story. In the movie "The Family", Robert De Niro plays an ex-mafioso who's in the witness protection program and is sent to a small town in France. When cleaning up the house, he finds typewriter and starts writing his memoirs, and tells his neighbors that he's a writer. The local literary society asks him to their movie night to give and American perspective on an American movie. The movie they were going to show was "The Best Years Of Our Lives", but there was a mix-up at the central branch and instead they sent "Goodfellas", which is kind of a double inside joke.

[@ajpanacake7994]

I was lucky enough to meet him and get his autograph at a 1990 collectible show. He had his Oscars with him. What a sweet man. It was such an honor to meet him.

[@nurselibby96]

Harold Lloyd's performance was outstanding in "The Best Years Our Lives" The movie is one of the best films I have ever seen, and I watch it every couple of years.

[@maryrosekent8223]

It was a great movie overall

[@stanlee3619]

Lloyd is someone else.

[@rtchidc]

Harold Lloyd was a silent film comedy star who was a contemporary of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

[@nurselibby96]

@@rtchidc that's funny, I didn't realize I had typed that. I love Harold Lloyd's comedy. I meant Harold Russell.Thanks for noticing.😀

[@craigkdillon]

That is amazing and very touching. Thanks for the post.

[@keelahrose]

The Best Years Of Our Lives is one of the best movies ever made. LOVE it.

[@garfieldsmith332]

Thanks for posting this story of Canadian born Harold Russell. Very few Canadians have ever heard about him.

[@richdiddens4059]

In 1989 he played basically the same character in China Beach as the WWII vet uncle of a nurse returning from the Vietnam War.

[@daler1584]

He was also in a couple of episodes of China Beach (The World, Part 1 and 2) Probably the most heart breaking and wonderful episodes of the series.

[@kathleenmcleod2023]

❤

[@davidjorgensen877]

Awesome story. I did not guess the correct answer. Saw the film years ago - gotta love William Wyler. I would note, however, that both Laurence Olivier (Hamlet) and Roberto Benigni (Life Is Beautiful) won the best actor and director Oscars for the same film. Since they directed their own performances, technically, they each won two Oscars for the same performance.

[@rev_isle]

Wow, great vid

[@PeterWhite-q1k]

There are many great movies, no doubt. For a movie to leave a lasting impression, and many happy memories, is rare. This is one of those movies. Truly one of The Great Movies in my humble opinion.

[@nemo227]

It was a masterfully done movie. I remember seeing it many years ago. Outstanding movie.

[@myrnahuichapan7624]

I do recall that he did appear in a movie in his later years called "Inside Moves" another good film.

[@robb7398]

I met him once when I was a kid, at Fenway Park, he was sitting in front of my dad and me.

[@ultraviolettas]

PSA: the movie is free on KZbin right now!!

[@mysticat7652]

Harold Russell! 🎉😂❤

[@jeffsilverman6104]

Harold was an amazing man, and Best Years is a great film. His only other acting credit was Inside Moves in 1980, one of the best and most poignant films I've ever seen. Check it out, if you haven't.

[@david.j9.rabbithole808]

Wonderful film.

[@beckycaughel7557]

I knew this before but I had forgotten his name

[@Rozsaphile]

That's Cathy O'Donnell (not nominated) with him at 0:58. Nice that she was at the ceremony. Who are the other two ladies?

[@CliffMatthews-t5f]

He won just one, the other was a gift.

[@muthaship64]

Love this film!

[@Cbcw76]

Harold did NOT play a soldier. He played a SAILOR. He was in the US Army and lost his hands in a training exercise with a faulty fused explosive. He was a SOLDIER in real life, but he played a SAILOR.

[@Cbcw76]

There were other 1930's films dealing with now-called PTSD but "shellshocked" was a common term used for decades. Ronald Colman protrayed a WWI 'shellshocked vet' in years-earlier RANDOM HARVEST (1942) which opens with the amnesiac Colman waiting desperately for someone to recognize him, to come for him, to take him home. We see him spruce up for various vet-hospital visitors, only to be repeatedly rejected - "No, that's not our son..." "No, that's not my husband..." This is a powerful film, tender, tear-jerking at some points, but - wow - modern audiences don't recognize his name nor beautiful Greer Garson, and this film is a staggeringly great intro to both. Bring hankies.

[@Cbcw76]

If fans are interested in noir/crime/detective films, here's a pair that start off rather identically: 1946's SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT with John Hodiak and 1949's THE CROOKED WAY with John Payne. Both films deal with a returning amnesiac war vet sent 'back home' to LA but they have no memories, and both were LA gangsters. The police recognize them. Their associates and romances recognize them but they know no one and no one believes that, despite the years long hospital stays for their 'shellshock' conditions. The film-stories diverge before the halfway point, and thats' what makes this nearly-identical starting half all the more interesting.

[@gio5969]

Lesson learned. Going to arrange for me to give myself an award and to get all of you to applaud that I won the award that I gave myself.

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Perhaps the greatest post WWII movie ever made! Loaded with veteran actors/actresses - and Harold Russell.

[@Cbcw76]

BEST YEARS was a delivered a post-WWII audience that ALL had suffered thru. There wasn't any town or village or even city blocks that weren't untouched by loss and sacrifice. There are few films that can touch so many in such a timely way. It's odd to see how 'loss' and 'pain' is portrayed. We hear Dana Andrews roll his eyes at Fredric March's "married 20 years" compared to Dana's "two weeks" scene. We see Dana recognize the end of his marriage while his mother and father knew it all along, being strong for their son in this 'loss'. And Harold's real struggle with showing people his hooks-not-hands. His mother blurting out a sob when she sees her baby reach down for bags with those hooks, not the hands she delivered him with. Hands she'd washed and played with. Hands he learned to write and clap All gone - POOF! That mom's loss was soooo real in that very simple, very powerful scene. And as Dana and Fredric drove away, "Gotta hand it to the Navy - they taught him how to use those things" and the other quips, "But they couldn't teach him to stroke his girlfriend's hair."

[@veghesther3204]

They asked that YEARS ago as a FINAL JEOPARDY question and all 3 GOT it WRONG.

[@wc7482]

A person does not “win” an honorary award as it is non-competitive. Still, an excellent performance by Harold Russel. Thanks for the video.

[@steveroe6771]

One of my favorite movies of all time. Glad I bought the DVD when I found it in a junk movie bin.

[@thewatcher5271]

If You Like Old Movies, It Is One Of The Best. The Chemistry Between Dana Andrews & Teresa Wright Is Great. Thank You. (Like #129 - Comment #14)

[@risk5riskmks93]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@leonardodalongisland]

Great trivia...just one thing, you should change "Win" to "Receive."

[@nunyanunya4147]

i like how the ai child voice says 'if its...' at the start ov 90% ov its sentences :)

[@gwine9087]

Best years was an incredible movie.

[@cws6493]

He was compelled to sell this Oscar because he had become impoverished

[@leonardodalongisland]

That's too bad.

[@KDC256]

​@@leonardodalongisland It's not too uncommon, unfortunately. In the end, an Oscar statuette is just an object.

[@LordMondegrene]

The only fault in Russell's performance was his Boston accent, which nobody else in the cast had, not even the actors playing his parents. But his performance was so genuine, and so powerful, I just wrote it off as a long childhood stay in Beantown, and the rest of the movie was as good as it gets.

[@MsBackstager]

A wonderful win for Russell.

[@edl653]

Salute to Harold Russel.

[@cj4607]

He won 1 Oscar and awarded an honorary Oscar. Not a double winner!

[@zanyzander]

Semantics. He was awarded 2 oscars for the same performance.

[@spencerwarren5397]

You must be fun at parties

[@cj4607]

@@spencerwarren5397 likewise with your recursive banter.

[@Hypnogely]

How many Oscars do you have?

[@TallyDrake]

Let's see. Would he have won the honorary Oscar if he hadn't played the role? Was he in any other movies at the time? No and no. I think it's logical to say he was awarded the honorary Oscar because of his performance in that movie.

[@samwst56]

That was pretty danged good!

[@RFC3514]

Has an actor ever been nominated twice for playing two roles in the same film? Do the rules allow that?

[@gterrymed]

Hopkins as Hannibal Lechter 😆 not quite

[@cartoonraccoon2078]

Did he pull the grenade and throw the pin?

[@MJ-we9vu]

He was training recruits in the States and a faulty fuse caused the explosives to detonate. It actually happened on D-Day.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

They Were important. Today...Not So Much.

[@joannejesko4205]

Harold Russell won.

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

Which actor won three Oscars in four years?

Peter Sallis aiding Wallace and Gromit twice ?

[@SunshineCatwoman]

Harold Russell was my favorite actor in "The Best Years of Our Lives." While I think it was pretty rotten of Hollyweird to turn him away like they did, I hate the term "ableism." There are too many "isms" bandied about these days. And Hollyweird was never made up of decent people in the first place.

[@Jessewren1968]

A great movie.

[@Antiwoke1]

My favorite movie

[@PeterMoore66]

Charles LAUGHTON. Not Coburn!

[@jenniferhanses]

A great win, and I'm glad he went on to have a great career elsewhere.

[@MrEdWeirdoShow]

First, Harold Russell was not an actor, so you posed a trick question. Also he won a third Oscar, when he played Captain Hook.

[@CCoburn3]

"Ableism"? Give me a break. Wyler did him a HUGE favor by telling him to go back to school.

[@stoopidapples1596]

There are 2 situations here: either he really would have been excluded from Hollywood because of his disability, or Wyler was himself being ableist and discouraging him for little reason. In both circumstances, ableism is involved. Realistically it's probably a mix of both, it would have been very difficult for him to find extra work for certain. Yet with an Oscar up his sleeve, his chances of getting future work is much higher than the average person even with his disability. Screenwriters would probably be willing to create roles specifically for him just to hinge off of his fame. Wyler crushed any future acting potential he may have had regardless of whether there was any.

[@TallyDrake]

​@@stoopidapples1596Or situation 3. Wyler, experienced in showbusiness, gave Russell some good, honest advice.

[@leighharwood3886]

That’s Charles Laughton, not Coburn.

[@gljm]

No, the picture is of Charles Coburn who was nominated that year for the movie "The Green Years".

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@xav9258]

They used to be prestigious, but people have seen through Hollywood!

[@torgman]

The first pity Oscar.

[@zanyzander]

I already know who this is and what it's for without watching!! It's for the Best Sup Actor Role in The Best Years Of Our Lives!! Such a brilliant film.

[@htw9594]

Makes ya wanta takes all the snowflakes to the forest, without any electronics and let them survive on their wits alone. What an amazing person!

[@censorshipsucks9493]

I recall during one Academy Awards ceremony, before they went woke, They had the stage filled with many past winners. I forget the occasion. Maybe 50th anniversary. Who knows. Anyway, he was up there. Also I recall he sold his Oscar in later years to get money for his wife's medical treatment of some sort.

[@MsNerdsRevenge]

Justice for Pearl Harbor ❤ finally.

[@kevinsierra-j5k]

1 Corinthians 6:9-11,

[@andrewyoung2796]

All things are legal to me...... But not necessarily expedient

[@dago4133]

The interest in the oscars is paperthin