Every Best Actor Winner In Oscar History
By Jenn Reid
Winners in the 1960s
The first Oscars ceremony of the decade was held on April 4, 1960, and the Best Actor award went to Charlton Heston for Ben-Hur. Ben-Hur took home 11 trophies that night, setting an all-time record that has since been tied (but not beat!) by Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
In 1961, Burt Lancaster walked away with the 33rd Best Actor Oscar for his role in Elmer Gantry. In 1962, it was Maximilian Schell for Judgment at Nuremberg, and then Gregory Peck won for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird in 1963.
Sidney Poitier won Best Actor in 1964 for Lillies in the Field. Poitier was the first African-American actor to win top acting honors at the Oscars, and the next wouldn’t come until Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001). Poitier’s award was presented by Anne Bancroft, who scandalized audiences at the time by giving Poitier a kiss on the cheek.
Rex Harrison won in 1965 for My Fair Lady, and Lee Marvin won in 1966 for Cat Ballou. In 1967, Paul Scofield won for A Man For All Seasons, and then in 1968, Rod Steiger won for In The Heat of the Night. The decade ended with Cliff Robertson winning for Charly at the 41st Academy Awards on April 14, 1969.
Winners
1960: Charlton Heston – Ben-Hur
1961: Burt Lancaster – Elmer Gantry
1962: Maximillian Schell – Judgment at Nuremberg
1963: Gregory Peck – To Kill a Mockingbird
1964: Sidney Poitier – Lillies in the Field
1965: Rex Harrison – My Fair Lady
1966: Lee Marvin – Cat Ballou
1967: Paul Scofield – A Man For All Seasons
1968: Rod Steiger – In The Heat of the Night
1969: Cliff Roberston – Charly