12 Oscar Winners Who Began Their Careers in Sitcoms

      Here are 12 Oscar winners who began their careers in sitcoms.

      This list highlights that no role is insignificant, and the talents utilized in comedic half-hour shows can also translate to high-budget serious films that contend for prestigious awards.

      Let’s dive in.

      **Jennifer Lawrence**

      TBS

      Jennifer Lawrence was born in Kentucky to a construction company manager and a summer camp director. At 14, she was discovered by a talent scout in New York City.

      Her first significant role was as a regular on TBS's *The Bill Engvall Show* from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, she starred in *Winter’s Bone*, which garnered her the first of four Oscar nominations.

      Two years later, she won the Oscar for her leading role in 2012’s *The Silver Linings Playbook*, where she portrays a troubled young woman entering a dance competition with her even more troubled partner, played by Bradley Cooper. She received nominations for 2013’s *American Hustle* and 2015’s *Joy*.

      She is also featured in our list of 12 Great Young Actors Who Made It Without Family Connections and recently appeared in *Die My Love*. Additionally, she is set to appear in an upcoming Martin Scorsese film alongside the next actor on our list.

      **Leonardo DiCaprio**

      A promotional image of Leonardo DiCaprio on *Growing Pains*. ABC

      Now one of the globe's most sought-after and highest-paid actors, DiCaprio first gained prominence in 1991 with a role in *Critters 3* and a recurring character on *Growing Pains*, where he played Luke Brower, a homeless boy adopted by the Seaver family.

      He quickly transitioned from television, receiving acclaim for 1993’s *This Boy’s Life*. His first of seven Oscar nominations came for 1993’s *What’s Eating Gilbert Grape*, followed by further accolades in the ’90s for films like *The Basketball Diaries* and *Romeo + Juliet*.

      His fame skyrocketed with his starring role in 1997’s *Titanic*, which remains one of the highest-grossing films ever. He received the Best Actor Oscar for his leading role in 2015’s *The Revenant*.

      His most recent Oscar nomination was for his role in the Best Picture winner *One Battle After Another*. He also recently received a nomination for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s *2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, alongside the next Oscar-winning actor in this list.

      **Brad Pitt**

      Brad Pitt on *Growing Pains*. ABC

      In 1987, Brad Pitt had uncredited appearances in *No Way Out*, *No Man’s Land*, and *Less Than Zero*, along with TV roles in the soap *Another World* and sitcoms *Head of the Class* and *Growing Pains* (before DiCaprio joined the cast).

      His popularity surged with his notable role in the 1991 film *Thelma & Louise*, where he began to establish his reputation as a leading man with character-actor depth. He also became a prominent producer in Hollywood through his company, Plan B Entertainment.

      While he has received seven Oscar nominations, his first win was for producing rather than acting: he won Best Picture for 2013’s *Twelve Years a Slave*, sharing the honor with director Steve McQueen. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, his 2019 collaboration with fellow *Growing Pains* alumnus Leonardo DiCaprio.

      Did we mention that the director of that film is also an Oscar winner who started in a sitcom? Read on:

      **Quentin Tarantino**

      Quentin Tarantino, third Elvis from the left. NBC

      Before he became a legendary filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino was an aspiring actor-screenwriter-director who once played an Elvis impersonator on the classic sitcom *The Golden Girls*. As Tarantino recounted to Jimmy Fallon on *The Tonight Show*, the role helped him in getting his first film, *Reservoir Dogs*, made.

      “Before I did *Reservoir Dogs*, I had a very unsuccessful acting career. However, one of the few jobs I did get… and not because of a stellar audition, but merely because they saw my picture and thought, ‘He’s got it,’ was for an Elvis impersonator on *The Golden Girls*,” Tarantino shared with Fallon.

      His interest in Elvis extended beyond the show: “In the ’80s, I walked around dressed like Elvis, with a pompadour all the time. I even went to a rockabilly place for my haircut… and dressed like a hillbilly cat.”

      Tarantino noted that the episode he appeared in, featuring Sophia’s wedding, was a two-parter showcasing a chorus of Elvis impersonators. “I got residuals for both episodes. It was so