The Elusive EGOT – Who’s Got It? Who’s Close?

It’s the Holy Grail of show business: winning all four of the major American entertainment awards. To get the elusive EGOT, a person must win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award. Most performers are thrilled to win just one of these prestigious awards, but for a select group of entertainers, one was not enough.

Famous EGOT holders include Audrey Hepburn, Rita Moreno and Whoopi Goldberg. Mel Brooks once turned down Kennedy Center Honors because he felt he had won enough awards, declaring “I’m an EGOT, so I don’t need any more.” In total, 11 people have the EGOT, with several more poised to join this elite crowd.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker

Comedic team Matt Stone and Trey Parker hold four Emmys each (for “South Park”) plus seven Tonys and a Grammy for “The Book of Mormon.” All they have left to EGOT is an Oscar (although the goofy duo was nominated, they never won). With “Book of Mormon” shows consistently selling out, there has been rampant speculation of a movie adaptation in the works. Perhaps that Oscar isn’t so far away after all.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons user ensceptico

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet is so close to the EGOT she can taste it. With an Emmy for “Mildred Pierce,” a Grammy for “Listen to the Storyteller,” and an Oscar for “The Reader,” Winslet just needs to bring home a Tony. She has the magnificent singing voice to pull off a musical and studied at a theater school as a child, giving her the acting chops to pull in that coveted Tony. Winslet was thrilled to win an Oscar, showing that she has the drive to get the EGOT.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Andrea Raffin

Cynthia Nixon

With an Emmy for “Sex and the City,” a Grammy for her spoken work in the global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” and a Tony for “Rabbit Hole,” Cynthia Nixon is on her way to EGOT. Thus far, her biggest commercial successes in film have been the “Sex and the City” movies, but they’re scarcely the types of films to merit an Oscar. If Nixon takes on a head-turning role, an Oscar might be within her reach.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ronald Kennedy

Barbra Streisand

A critics’ darling, Barbra Streisand’s EGOT status is hotly debated. She holds several Grammys, including one for 1963 Album of the Year, an Oscar for her performance in “Funny Girl” and four Emmys for “Barbra Streisand: The Concert.” Although she won a Tony in 1970, sticklers contend that it’s an honorary Tony that doesn’t count for EGOT status. Perhaps Barbra will return to the stage to earn a competitive Tony, but she may be content with her honorary EGOT status.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons public domain

Robin Williams

In his years as an entertainer, Robin Williams has amassed a handful of Grammys for his comedy albums, two Emmys, and an Oscar for “Good Will Hunting.” All that remains is a Tony. Although Williams has appeared on Broadway in the past, he’ll need to brush up on his acting skills to be in the running for the last piece of his EGOT.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Eva Rinaldi

Guest article by: Lucky Sanchez