(PCM) Many have attempted but only a select few can say that they have completed the quest for true super stardom and have received the quad-awards that make up an EGOT.
What is an EGOT, you ask? EGOT is an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and is used to reference those select individuals that have won all four coveted awards. The acronym was invented by actor Philip Michael Thomas of Miami Vice fame, who had big plans for winning all four awards, despite never being nominated for any thus far. He did receive a People’s Choice Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe, neither of which are part of the EGOT category. The term further gained popularity when mentioned several times on the hit TV series “30 Rock”.
According to Wikipedia, winning all four awards can be compared to winning the ultimate Grand Slam Of Show Business and definitely a highly sought after honor.
Up to now, only eleven people have completed the EGOT and taken home all four awards competitively, while three others have won all four awards, although at least one of the them was non-competitive, meaning it was an honorary prize.
The list of eleven EGOT winners includes Richard Rodgers who completed his EGOT quest with an Emmy in 1962, Helen Hayes who completed her EGOT quest with a Grammy in 1977, Rita Moreno who completed her EGOT quest with an Emmy in 1977, John Gielgud who completed his EGOT quest in 1991 with an Emmy win, Audrey Hepburn who completed her EGOT quest with a Grammy win in 1994, Marvin Hamlisch who completed his EGOT quest with an Emmy win in 1995, Jonathan Tunick who completed his EGOT quest with a Tony win in 1997, Mel Brooks who completed his EGOT quest with a Tony win in 2001, Mike Nichols who completed his EGOT quest with an Emmy win in 2001, Whoopi Goldberg who completed her EGOT quest with a Tony win in 2002, and finally Scott Rudin who completed his EGOT quest with a Grammy win in 2012.
The three artists who have completed the EGOT, but in a non-competitive fashion are Barbara Streisand who won a special Tony award in 1970 to completed the EGOT quest, Liza Minnelli who took home the Grammy Legend Award in 1990 to complete the EGOT, and James Earl Jones who received an Academy Honorary Award in 2001 to complete the EGOT.
There are several actors that are still attempting to complete the EGOT and have won three of the four awards. Just to list a few, Julie Andrews, Kate Winslet, and Robin Williams are missing a Tony Award, Ellen Brustyn, Jeremy Irons, and Al Pacino are missing a Grammy Award, Elton John, Andrew Llyod Webber and Tim Rice are missing an Emmy Award and Cyndi Lauper, Trey Parker, and Lily Tomlin are missing an Oscar.
We have only listed a few of the list of many that have won three of the four awards and there are quite a few others who are still striving to complete the EGOT quest. In recent news, actor/comedian Stephen Colbert has revealed that he too is well on his way to the coveted EGOT, needing only an Oscar and a Tony to complete his quest. The same can be said for singer Adele who has taken home an Oscar award for “Skyfall” and several Grammy-awards, needing only a Tony and an Emmy to complete the EGOT.
As awards season kicks into full swing in the next few months, we will have to wait and see if any more names can be added to the exclusive EGOT winners circle in 2014!