Oscar Nominated Kids
This list could also be the Top 20 Youngest Oscar Nominees, because we have a nice round number of 20. This list is pretty self explanatory, but a few notes. You have to have been under the age of 18 for this list & age is based on their age at the ceremony itself. Also, I will not be counting any recipients of the now defunct Academy Juvenile Award because the whole point of that award is awarding performers under 18. Only 4 out of these 20 would received Oscar nominations in adulthood.
Jackie Cooper, ‘Skippy’ (age 9)- The only ever nominee for Best Actor under the age of 18, Jackie Cooper starred in the 1931 comedy that also earned a Best Picture nomination. Cooper is one of only three performers under 18 to be nominated for a lead acting award.
Quvenzhané Wallis, ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ (age 9)- One of the only two nominees under the age of 18 for Best Actress, Wallis was nominated for the 2012 fantasy-drama film. To date, she is also the only person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an acting Oscar.
Keisha Castle-Hughes, ‘Whale Rider’ (age 13)- The Australia-born, New Zealand actress was nominated for her acting debut in 2002 in which she starred as a Māori girl aspiring to be the chief of her tribe.
Justin Henry, ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ (age 8)- The youngest ever nominee in any Oscar category, Henry was only eight years old when he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role alongside Meryl Streep & Dustin Hoffman as a couple getting divorced.
Haley Joel Osment, ‘The Sixth Sense’ (age 11)- One of the all-time child stars, Osment had previously starred in Best Picture winner ‘Forrest Gump’ before he broke through here as a boy who can see dead people. Osment would have many other popular roles in his adolescence.
Brandon deWilde, ‘Shane’ (age 11)- By the time Brandon deWilde starred in the 1953 Western, ‘Shane’ he had already completed nearly 500 performances on Broadway in the show ‘The Member of the Wedding’ & had won a Golden Globe Juvenile Award for his role in the film adaptation. The young actor tragically passed away at age 30.
Jack Wild, ‘Oliver!’ (age 16)- Receiving a nomination in 1968, Wild played the well known role of the Artful Dodger in ‘Oliver!’
Sal Mineo, ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ (age 17)- Just barely making the cut is Sal Mineo, who played opposite James Dean in ‘Rebel Without a Cause.’ Mineo would also get nominated in 1960, at age 22, making him both the 5th & 10th youngest Best Supporting Actor nominee.
Tatum O’Neal, ‘Paper Moon’ (age 10)- The youngest ever Oscar-winner, O’Neal starred opposite her father, Ryan O’Neal in 1973’s ‘Paper Moon.’ The film was her debut role, making her a member of a select list to win an Oscar in their first film role.
Mary Badham, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (age 10)- One of the most iconic film roles of all-time, Badham played the role of Scout Finch in the 1962 film based on the novel. For 10 years she was the youngest nominee in the category before O’Neal took the record.
Quinn Cummings, ‘The Goodbye Girl’ (age 10)- Though she would quit acting by the her teenage years, Cummings managed to garner an Oscar nomination in her career for ‘The Goodbye Girl.’ The film also won Richard Dreyfuss the Best Actor Oscar, making him the longtime record holder as the youngest winner in the category.
Abigail Breslin, ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (age 10)- One of the top child actors of the 21st century, Breslin rose to fame with her role in this 2006 tragicomedy. Her costar, Alan Arkin, won the Best Supporting Actor Award & Breslin has since starred in various other films.
Patty McCormack, ‘The Bad Seed’ (age 11)- Our next entrant played the role of Rhoda Penmark on Broadway, receiving acclaim, before appearing in the film adaptation in 1956.
Anna Paquin, ‘The Piano’ (age 11)- One of the few winners on this list, the New Zealander Paquin won an Oscar for her debut role in the drama film, ‘The Piano.’ Paquin has since earned Emmy & Golden Globe nominations in her adult years
Saoirse Ronan, ‘Atonement’ (age 13)- Now a four time Oscar nominee at only age 30, Ronan started off strong earning her first Oscar nomination in her early teen years. Her other Oscar-nominated films are ‘Brooklyn,’ ‘Lady Bird,’ & ‘Little Women.’
Bonita Granville, ‘These Three’ (age 14)- Granville’s Oscar nominated role came in 1936’s ‘These Three’ based on the 1934 play ‘The Children’s Hour.’
Hailee Steinfeld, ‘True Grit’ (age 14)- Now a massive popstar & acclaimed actress, Steinfeld has many blockbusters to her name. However, her debut role came in the 2010 remake of ‘True Grit’ where she starred as Mattie Ross.
Jodie Foster, ‘Taxi Driver’ (age 14)- Now one of the all-time most decorated actors, ‘Taxi Driver’ wasn’t the debut role of Foster as she had already starred in various Disney films. But it skyrocketed her to superstar status for her role opposite Robert De Niro. Foster now has 2 Oscars, 3 BAFTAs, 4 Golden Globes, & an Emmy to her name.
Natalie Wood, ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ (age 16)- The second star from ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ on this list, Wood was already a movie star by her teenage years due to her role in ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ at age 8.
Patty Duke, ‘The Miracle Worker’ (age 16)- Our final entry & third winner, Duke originated her Oscar-winning role of Helen Keller on Broadway before taking it to the big screen in 1962.
