List of Academy Award for Best Director winners by age

This is a list of winners of the Academy Award of Merit for Achievement in Directing, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to a director who has delivered outstanding direction while working on a particular film within the industry. More popularly known as the Academy Award (or the Oscar) for Best Directing, this award was initially presented at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony for 1927 and 1928 and was most recently presented at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony for 2014. Throughout the past 87 years, accounting for shared and repeat winners, AMPAS has presented a total of 90 Best Directing awards to 67 different directors. This list is current as of the 87th Academy Awards ceremony held on February 22, 2015.

List of winners

#	Director	Film	Date of birth	Date of award	Age upon receiving award	Date of death	Lifespan	Notes
1	Borzage, FrankFrank Borzage	Seventh HeavenSeventh Heaven	1894-04-23		35-023	1962-06-19	days ()	Dramatic; 1st of 2 Held record as oldest winner for 1 award ceremony (from the 1st to the 2nd, May 1929–April 1930 [11 months])
2	Milestone, LewisLewis Milestone	Two Arabian KnightsTwo Arabian Knights	1895-09-30		33-228	1980-09-25	days ()	Comedy; 1st of 2 Held record as youngest winner for 3 award ceremonies (from the 1st to the 4th, May 1929–November 1931 [2 years, 6 months])
3	Lloyd, FrankFrank Lloyd	Divine LadyThe Divine Lady	1886-02-02		44-060	1960-08-10	days ()	1st of 2 Held record as oldest winner for 10 award ceremonies (from the 2nd to the 12th, April 1930–February 1940)
4	Milestone, LewisLewis Milestone	All Quiet On The Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front	1895-09-30		35-036	1980-09-25	days ()	2nd of 2
5	Taurog, NormanNorman Taurog	SkippySkippy	1899-02-23		32-260	1981-04-07	days ()	Has held record as youngest winner for 83 award ceremonies (from the 4th through the 87th, November 1931–February 2015 [83 years, 3 months])
6	Borzage, FrankFrank Borzage	Bad GirlBad Girl	1894-04-23		38-209	1962-06-19	days ()	2nd of 2
7	Lloyd, FrankFrank Lloyd	CavalcadeCavalcade	1886-02-02		48-042	1960-08-10	days ()	2nd of 2
8	Capra, FrankFrank Capra	It Happened One NightIt Happened One Night	1897-05-18		37-285	1991-09-03	days ()	1st of 3
9	Ford, JohnJohn Ford	InformerThe Informer	1894-02-01		42-033	1973-08-31	days ()	1st of 4
10	Capra, FrankFrank Capra	Mr Deeds Goes To TownMr. Deeds Goes to Town	1897-05-18		39-290	1991-09-03	days ()	2nd of 3
11	McCarey, LeoLeo McCarey	Awful TruthThe Awful Truth	1898-10-03		39-158	1969-07-05	days ()	1st of 2
12	Capra, FrankFrank Capra	You Cant Take It With YouYou Can't Take It With You	1897-05-18		41-281	1991-09-03	days ()	3rd of 3
13	Fleming, VictorVictor Fleming	Gone With The WindGone with the Wind	1889-02-23		51-006	1949-01-06	days ()	Held record as oldest winner for 4 award ceremonies (from the 12th to the 16th, February 1940–March 1944)
14	Ford, JohnJohn Ford	Grapes Of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath	1894-02-01		47-026	1973-08-31	days ()	2nd of 4
15	Ford, JohnJohn Ford	How Green Was My ValleyHow Green Was My Valley	1894-02-01		48-025	1973-08-31	days ()	3rd of 4
16	Wyler, WilliamWilliam Wyler	Mrs MiniverMrs. Miniver	1902-07-01		40-246	1981-07-27	days ()	1st of 3
17	Curtiz, MichaelMichael Curtiz	CasablancaCasablanca	1886-12-24		57-069	1962-04-10	days ()	Held record as oldest winner for 9 award ceremonies (from the 16th to the 25th, March 1944–March 1953)
18	McCarey, LeoLeo McCarey	Going My WayGoing My Way	1898-10-03		46-163	1969-07-05	days ()	2nd of 2
19	Wilder, BillyBilly Wilder	Lost WeekendThe Lost Weekend	1906-06-22		39-258	2002-03-27	days ()	1st of 2
20	Wyler, WilliamWilliam Wyler	Best Years of Our LivesThe Best Years of Our Lives	1902-07-01		44-255	1981-07-27	days ()	2nd of 3
21	Kazan, EliaElia Kazan	Gentlemans AgreementGentleman's Agreement	1909-09-07		38-195	2003-09-28	days ()	1st of 2
22	Huston, JohnJohn Huston	Treasure Of The Sierra MadreThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre	1906-08-05		42-231	1987-08-28	days ()
23	Mankiewicz, JosephJoseph L. Mankiewicz	Letter To Three WivesA Letter to Three Wives	1909-02-11		41-040	1993-02-05	days ()	1st of 2
24	Mankiewicz, JosephJoseph L. Mankiewicz	All About EveAll About Eve	1909-02-11		42-046	1993-02-05	days ()	2nd of 2
25	Stevens, GeorgeGeorge Stevens	Place In The SunA Place in the Sun	1904-12-18		47-103	1975-03-08	days ()	1st of 2
26	Ford, JohnJohn Ford	Quiet ManThe Quiet Man	1894-02-01		59-046	1973-08-31	days ()	4th of 4 Held record as oldest winner for 12 award ceremonies (from the 25th to the 37th, March 1953–April 1965)
27	Zinnemann, FredFred Zinnemann	From Here To EternityFrom Here to Eternity	1907-04-29		46-330	1997-03-14	days ()	1st of 2
28	Kazan, EliaElia Kazan	On The WaterfrontOn the Waterfront	1909-09-07		45-204	2003-09-28	days ()	2nd of 2
29	Mann, DelbertDelbert Mann	MartyMarty	1920-01-30		36-051	2007-11-11	days ()
30	Stevens, GeorgeGeorge Stevens	GiantGiant	1904-12-18		52-099	1975-03-08	days ()	2nd of 2
31	Lean, DavidDavid Lean	Bridge On The River KwaiThe Bridge on the River Kwai	1908-03-25		50-001	1991-04-16	days ()	1st of 2
32	Minnelli, VincenteVincente Minnelli	GigiGigi	1903-02-28		56-037	1986-07-25	days ()
33	Wyler, WilliamWilliam Wyler	Ben-HurBen-Hur	1902-07-01		57-278	1981-07-27	days ()	3rd of 3
34	Wilder, BillyBilly Wilder	ApartmentThe Apartment	1906-06-22		54-299	2002-03-27	days ()	2nd of 2
35	Robbins, JeromeJerome Robbins	West Side StoryWest Side Story	1918-10-11		43-180	1998-07-29	days ()	Shared
36	Wise, RobertRobert Wise	West Side StoryWest Side Story	1914-09-10		47-211	2005-09-14	days ()	Shared; 1st of 2
37	Lean, DavidDavid Lean	Lawrence Of ArabiaLawrence of Arabia	1908-03-25		55-014	1991-04-16	days ()	2nd of 2
38	Richardson, TonyTony Richardson	Tom JonesTom Jones	1928-06-05		35-313	1991-11-14	days ()
39	Cukor, GeorgeGeorge Cukor	My Fair LadyMy Fair Lady	1899-07-07		65-272	1983-01-24	days ()	Held record as oldest winner for 38 award ceremonies (from the 37th to the 75th, April 1965–March 2003)
40	Wise, RobertRobert Wise	Sound Of MusicThe Sound of Music	1914-09-10		51-220	2005-09-14	days ()	2nd of 2
41	Zinnemann, FredFred Zinnemann	Man For All SeasonsA Man for All Seasons	1907-04-29		59-346	1997-03-14	days ()	2nd of 2
42	Nichols, MikeMike Nichols	GraduateThe Graduate	1931-11-06		36-156	2014-11-19	days ()
43	Reed, CarolCarol Reed	OliverOliver!	1906-12-30		62-105	1976-04-25	days ()
44	Schlesinger, JohnJohn Schlesinger	Midnight CowboyMidnight Cowboy	1926-02-16		44-050	2003-07-25	days ()
45	Schaffner, FranklinFranklin J. Schaffner	PattonPatton	1920-05-30		50-320	1989-07-02	days ()
46	Friedkin, WilliamWilliam Friedkin	French ConnectionThe French Connection	1935-08-29		36-225	--	days ()
47	Fosse, BobBob Fosse	CabaretCabaret	1927-06-23		45-277	1987-09-23	days ()
48	Hill, GeorgeGeorge Roy Hill	StingThe Sting	1921-12-20		52-103	2002-12-27	days ()
49	Coppola, FrancisFrancis Ford Coppola	Godfather Part 2The Godfather Part II	1939-04-07		36-001	--	days ()
50	Forman, MilosMiloš Forman	One Flew Over The Cuckoos NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest	1932-02-18		44-040	--	days ()	1st of 2
51	Avildsen, JohnJohn G. Avildsen	RockyRocky	1935-12-21		41-097	--	days ()
52	Allen, WoodyWoody Allen	Annie HallAnnie Hall	1935-12-01		42-123	--	days ()
53	Cimino, MichaelMichael Cimino	Deer HunterThe Deer Hunter	1939-02-03		40-065	--	days ()
54	Benton, RobertRobert Benton	Kramer Vs KramerKramer vs. Kramer	1932-09-29		47-198	--	days ()
55	Redford, RobertRobert Redford	Ordinary PeopleOrdinary People	1936-08-18		44-225	--	days ()
56	Beatty, WarrenWarren Beatty	RedsReds	1937-03-30		44-364	--	days ()
57	Attenborough, RichardRichard Attenborough	GandhiGandhi	1923-08-29		59-225	2014-08-24	days ()
58	Brooks, JamesJames L. Brooks	Terms Of EndearmentTerms of Endearment	1940-05-09		43-336	--	days ()
59	Forman, MilosMiloš Forman	AmadeusAmadeus	1932-02-18		53-035	--	days ()	2nd of 2
60	Pollack, SydneySydney Pollack	Out Of AfricaOut of Africa	1934-07-01		51-266	2008-05-26	days ()
61	Stone, OliverOliver Stone	PlatoonPlatoon	1946-09-15		40-196	--	days ()	1st of 2
62	Bertolucci, BernardoBernardo Bertolucci	Last EmperorThe Last Emperor	1940-03-16		48-026	--	days ()
63	Levinson, BarryBarry Levinson	Rain ManRain Man	1942-04-06		46-355	--	days ()
64	Stone, OliverOliver Stone	Born On The Fourth Of JulyBorn on the Fourth of July	1946-09-15		43-192	--	days ()	2nd of 2
65	Costner, KevinKevin Costner	Dances With WolvesDances with Wolves	1955-01-18		36-066	--	days ()
66	Demme, JonathanJonathan Demme	Silence Of The LambsThe Silence of the Lambs	1944-02-22		48-037	--	days ()
67	Eastwood, ClintClint Eastwood	UnforgivenUnforgiven	1930-05-31		62-302	--	days ()	1st of 2
68	Spielberg, StevenSteven Spielberg	Schindlers ListSchindler's List	1946-12-18		47-093	--	days ()	1st of 2
69	Zemeckis, RobertRobert Zemeckis	Forrest GumpForrest Gump	1951-05-14		42-317	--	days ()
70	Gibson, MelMel Gibson	BraveheartBraveheart	1956-01-03		40-082	--	days ()
71	Minghella, AnthonyAnthony Minghella	English PatientThe English Patient	1954-01-06		43-077	2008-03-18	days ()
72	Cameron, JamesJames Cameron	TitanicTitanic	1954-08-16		43-219	--	days ()
73	Spielberg, StevenSteven Spielberg	Saving Private RyanSaving Private Ryan	1946-12-18		52-093	--	days ()	2nd of 2
74	Mendes, SamSam Mendes	American BeautyAmerican Beauty	1965-08-01		34-238	--	days ()
75	Soderbergh, StevenSteven Soderbergh	TrafficTraffic	1963-01-14		38-070	--	days ()
76	Howard, RonRon Howard	Beautiful MindA Beautiful Mind	1954-03-01		48-023	--	days ()
77	Polanski, RomanRoman Polanski	PianistThe Pianist	1933-08-18		69-217	--	days ()	Held record as oldest winner for 2 award ceremonies (from the 75th to the 77th, March 2003–February 2005)
78	Jackson, PeterPeter Jackson	Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King	1961-10-31		42-121	--	days ()
79	Eastwood, ClintClint Eastwood	Million Dollar BabyMillion Dollar Baby	1930-05-31		74-272	--	days ()	2nd of 2 Has held record as oldest winner for 10 award ceremonies (from the 77th through the 87th, February 2005–February 2015)
80	Lee, AngAng Lee	Brokeback MountainBrokeback Mountain	1954-10-23		51-133	--	days ()	1st of 2
81	Scorsese, MartinMartin Scorsese	DepartedThe Departed	1942-11-17		64-100	--	days ()
82	Coen, EthanEthan Coen	No Country For Old MenNo Country for Old Men	1957-09-21		50-156	--	days ()	Shared
83	Coen, JoelJoel Coen	No Country For Old MenNo Country for Old Men	1954-11-29		53-087	--	days ()	Shared
84	Boyle, DannyDanny Boyle	Slumdog MillionaireSlumdog Millionaire	1956-10-20		52-125	--	days ()
85	Bigelow, KathrynKathryn Bigelow	Hurt LockerThe Hurt Locker	1951-11-27		58-100	--	days ()
86	Hooper, TomTom Hooper	Kings SpeechThe King's Speech	1972-10-01		38-149	--	days ()
87	Hazanavicius, MichelMichel Hazanavicius	ArtistThe Artist	1967-03-29		44-334	--	days ()
88	Lee, AngAng Lee	Life of PiLife of Pi	1954-10-23		58-124	--	days ()	2nd of 2
89	Cuaron, AlfonsoAlfonso Cuaron	GravityGravity	1961-11-28		52-94	--	days ()
90	Iñárritu, Alejandro GonzálezAlejandro González Iñárritu	Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)	1963-08-15		51-191	--	days ()

#	Director	Film	Date of birth	Date of award	Age upon receiving award	Date of death	Lifespan	Notes

External links

Oscars.org (official Academy site)
Oscar.com (official ceremony promotional site)
The Academy Awards Database (official site)

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1927 in film1928 in film1st Academy Awards2014 in film87th Academy AwardsA Beautiful Mind (film)A Letter to Three WivesA Man for All Seasons (1966 film)A Place in the Sun (film)Academy AwardAcademy Award for Best DirectingAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesAlejandro González IñárrituAlfonso CuaronAll About EveAll Quiet on the Western Front (1930 film)Amadeus (film)American Beauty (1999 film)Ang LeeAnnie HallAnthony MinghellaBad Girl (1931 film)Barry LevinsonBen-Hur (1959 film)Bernardo BertolucciBilly WilderBirdman (film)Bob FosseBorn on the Fourth of July (film)BraveheartBrokeback MountainCabaret (1972 film)Carol ReedCasablanca (film)Cavalcade (1933 film)Clint EastwoodCoen brothersDances with WolvesDanny BoyleDavid LeanDelbert MannElia KazanFilmFilm directorFilm industryForrest GumpFrancis Ford CoppolaFrank BorzageFrank CapraFrank LloydFranklin J. SchaffnerFred ZinnemannFrom Here to EternityGandhi (film)Gentleman's AgreementGeorge CukorGeorge Roy HillGeorge StevensGiant (1956 film)Gigi (1958 film)Going My WayGone with the Wind (film)Gravity (film)How Green Was My Valley (film)It Happened One NightJames CameronJames L. BrooksJerome RobbinsJohn FordJohn G. AvildsenJohn HustonJohn SchlesingerJonathan DemmeJoseph L. MankiewiczKathryn BigelowKevin CostnerKramer vs. KramerLawrence of Arabia (film)Leo McCareyLewis MilestoneLife of Pi (film)List of Best Actor winners by ageList of Best Actress winners by ageList of Best Supporting Actor winners by ageList of Best Supporting Actress winners by ageList of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nomineesMartin ScorseseMarty (film)Mel GibsonMichael CiminoMichael CurtizMichel HazanaviciusMidnight CowboyMike NicholsMillion Dollar BabyMiloš FormanMr. Deeds Goes to TownMrs. Miniver (film)My Fair Lady (film)No Country for Old Men (film)Norman TaurogOliver StoneOliver! (film)On the WaterfrontOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)Ordinary PeopleOut of Africa (film)Patton (film)Peter JacksonPlatoon (film)Rain ManReds (film)Richard AttenboroughRobert BentonRobert RedfordRobert WiseRobert ZemeckisRockyRoman PolanskiRon HowardSam MendesSaving Private RyanSchindler's ListSeventh Heaven (1927 film)Skippy (1931 film)Slumdog MillionaireSteven SoderberghSteven SpielbergSydney PollackTerms of EndearmentThe ApartmentThe Artist (film)The Awful TruthThe Best Years of Our LivesThe Bridge on the River KwaiThe Deer HunterThe DepartedThe Divine LadyThe English Patient (film)The French Connection (film)The Godfather Part IIThe GraduateThe Grapes of Wrath (film)The Hurt LockerThe Informer (1935 film)The King's SpeechThe Last EmperorThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingThe Lost Weekend (film)The Pianist (2002 film)The Quiet ManThe Silence of the Lambs (film)The Sound of Music (film)The StingThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre (film)Titanic (1997 film)Tom Hooper (director)Tom Jones (1963 film)Tony RichardsonTraffic (2000 film)Two Arabian KnightsUnforgivenVictor FlemingVincente MinnelliWarren BeattyWest Side Story (film)William FriedkinWilliam WylerWoody AllenYou Can't Take It With You (film)

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List of Academy Award for Best Director winners by age

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