13 Oscar Winners Who Began Their Careers in Sitcoms

      Do you believe there’s a significant divide between sitcoms and the Academy Awards?

      Don’t mention that to these 13 Oscar winners who originated in sitcoms.

      This compilation demonstrates that there are no insignificant roles, and that the same talents showcased in half-hour comedy shows with laugh tracks can transfer to serious contenders for major awards.

      Sally Field

      ABC

      Sally Field rose to fame on television with the sitcom Gidget (1965-67), followed by The Flying Nun (1967-70). Well-known for her wholesome characters, she pursued more complex roles, most notably in the 1976 TV movie Sybil, where she portrayed a young woman with dissociative personality disorder and won an Emmy.

      In 1977, she starred alongside Burt Reynolds in the successful Smokey and the Bandit, and in 1979, she earned her first Best Actress Oscar for Norma Rae. She repeated her success with another Oscar for 1984’s Places in the Heart, famously delivering one of the most iconic Oscar speeches, "You like me, right now — you like me!"

      She also garnered an Oscar nomination for her role in 2012’s Lincoln. We’re fond of her!

      Tom Hanks

      ABC

      Although Tom Hanks’ debut was in the low-budget horror film He Knows You’re Alone, he truly gained recognition from the sitcom Bosom Buddies, which aired for two seasons starting in 1980, featuring Hanks and Peter Scolari as two men disguising themselves as women to reside in a female-only hotel.

      Hanks swiftly transitioned to film fame, landing lead roles in both Splash and Bachelor Party in 1984. For the next four decades, he has enjoyed status as one of the most adored actors globally.

      In the ’90s, he clinched two consecutive Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). His latest nomination was for his sensitive performance as Fred Rogers in 2019’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

      Among his collaborations with Steven Spielberg is a role in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can, opposite the next actor on our list.

      Leonardo DiCaprio

      A promotional image of Leonardo DiCaprio on Growing Pains. ABC

      Now one of the most sought-after and highest-paid actors, DiCaprio achieved fame in 1991 with his movie role in Critters 3 and a recurring TV role on Growing Pains, where he portrayed Luke Brower, a homeless boy adopted by the Seaver family.

      He quickly moved away from television, earning acclaim for 1993’s This Boy’s Life. He received his first of seven Oscar nominations for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and garnered additional praise throughout the ’90s for roles in The Basketball Diaries and Romeo + Juliet.

      His fame skyrocketed with his lead role in 1997’s Titanic, one of the highest-grossing films ever. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in 2015’s The Revenant.

      His most recent Oscar nomination was for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, alongside the next Oscar-winning actor on our list.

      Brad Pitt

      Brad Pitt on Growing Pains. ABC

      In 1987, Brad Pitt had a notable year, appearing in uncredited roles in films such as No Way Out, No Man’s Land, and Less Than Zero, in addition to TV roles in the soap Another World and sitcoms like Head of the Class and Growing Pains (before DiCaprio joined the show).

      His popularity surged with a small yet significant role in 1991’s Thelma & Louise, establishing a reputation for blending leading-man appeal with character-actor dedication. He also became a prominent producer in Hollywood through his company Plan B Entertainment.

      Despite receiving seven Oscar nominations, his first win was for producing, not acting; he earned a Best Picture Oscar for 2013’s Twelve Years a Slave, a collaboration with director Steve McQueen. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, his 2019 film with fellow Growing Pains star Leonardo DiCaprio.

      Did we mention that the director of that film is also an Oscar winner who began in a sitcom? Continue reading:

      Quentin Tarantino

      Quentin Tarantino, third Elvis from left. NBC

      Before becoming one of the greatest filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino was an aspiring actor, screenwriter, and director who briefly acted as an Elvis impersonator on the beloved sitcom The Golden Girls. As he mentioned to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, this role helped facilitate the production of his first film, Reservoir Dogs.

      “Before I did Reservoir Dogs, my acting career wasn’t very successful. However, I landed one of my few roles not because of a fantastic audition, but because my picture was sent in, and they decided, ‘He’s