The Academy Awards represent the pinnacle of Hollywood recognition. This quiz covers the high-stakes history of the Oscars, from legendary performers to the records they set.
You will see questions about posthumous wins, surprising snubs of iconic actors, and the youngest or oldest winners who made history. It tracks the career milestones of various screen legends.
When you finish this, explore more on Academy Award lore, Hollywood legends, or record-breaking star performances.
Which legendary actress holds the record for the most Academy Award wins for Best Actress with four trophies?
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
How many total Academy Award nominations did Katharine Hepburn receive during her career?
14
14
10
10
16
16
12
12
Which of the following best describes why Katharine Hepburn famously avoided attending the Oscar ceremonies, even when she was a nominee?
She was filming in Europe
She was filming in Europe
She fundamentally did not believe in the competitive nature of awards
She fundamentally did not believe in the competitive nature of awards
She was recovering from an illness
She was recovering from an illness
She was protesting the studio system
She was protesting the studio system
Who was the first performer to be awarded an Academy Award for Acting posthumously?
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Peter Finch
Peter Finch
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
James Dean
James Dean
For which film did Peter Finch receive a posthumous Academy Award?
Giant
Giant
Network
Network
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire
Which actor won a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Joker?
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee
Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
River Phoenix
River Phoenix
Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman
In which film did Heath Ledger provide his final completed performance before his untimely death?
10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
A Knight’s Tale
A Knight’s Tale
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain
Which actor holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for acting without ever winning a competitive Oscar?
Peter O’Toole
Peter O’Toole
Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
Amy Adams
Amy Adams
How many competitive acting nominations did Peter O’Toole receive throughout his professional career?
10
10
8
8
6
6
12
12
For which epic 1962 film was Peter O’Toole first nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor?
Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia
The Lion in Winter
The Lion in Winter
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year
Which living performer holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for acting without a single win as of early 2026?
Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter
Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
How many Academy Award acting nominations has Glenn Close received as of early 2026?
6
6
9
9
8
8
7
7
Who is the youngest person to ever win a competitive Academy Award in an acting category?
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper
Tatum O’Neal
Tatum O’Neal
Quvenzhané Wallis
Quvenzhané Wallis
For which film did Tatum O’Neal win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress?
Paper Moon
Paper Moon
National Velvet
National Velvet
The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker
The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed
Who is the oldest person to win a competitive Academy Award for acting?
Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy
For which film did Christopher Plummer win his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at age 82?
Beginners
Beginners
The Last Station
The Last Station
All the Money in the World
All the Money in the World
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
Who is the oldest person to win the Academy Award for Best Actress?
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand
Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
For which film did an 80-year-old Jessica Tandy win the Best Actress Oscar?
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy
Cocoon
Cocoon
The Birds
The Birds
Who holds the record for the oldest person to win the Academy Award for Best Actor?
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
John Wayne
John Wayne
Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
For which film did Anthony Hopkins win his second Best Actor Academy Award at age 83?
The Father
The Father
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs
The Remains of the Day
The Remains of the Day
Nixon
Nixon
Which comedy duo, known for their signature bowler hats, famously received no competitive Academy Award nominations despite their immense cultural impact?
The Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers
Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
The Three Stooges
The Three Stooges
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
For which film did Henry Fonda win his first competitive Academy Award for Best Actor at the age of 76?
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath
12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men
Mister Roberts
Mister Roberts
On Golden Pond
On Golden Pond
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoy learning about cinema history, check out these categories for more trivia: BAFTA history, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and general actor profiles.
