When James Earl Jones died on Monday, some headlines called the prolific actor — known for his deep, mellifluous voice — an EGOT winner.
Jones performed in scores of plays, some 120 movies and on nearly 90 television shows.
And he was rewarded with Emmys, Tonys, a Grammy, an Obie (for Off Broadway productions), a National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center honors and an honorary Academy Award.
But the honorary Oscar might not be enough for the exclusive EGOT club — the playful acronym for winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
There has long been a debate over whether honorary or noncompetitive awards count toward EGOT status.
Back in 2011, Jones won the honorary Oscar, a lifetime achievement award that comes with the famous Oscar trophy and has been given to the likes of Mel Brooks, Sophia Loren, Spike Lee and other Hollywood luminaries.
“While Jones already has an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony, to complete the EGOT cycle, winners have to actually win each award, and honorary awards do not count,” according to the newspaper.
The list includes Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Viola Davis and Elton John.
Even if an honorary win doesn’t quite count, Jones still finds himself in good company.
Other honorary EGOT winners include Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones and Liza Minnelli.
Several headlines referred to James Earl Jones, who was well-known for his rich, melodious voice and prolific career, as an EGOT winner upon his passing on Monday. However, it’s unclear if he truly belongs in the exclusive group.
Jones appeared in almost 90 television series, 120 films, and numerous plays. In addition, he received honorary Academy Awards, Kennedy Center honors, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy, an Obie (for Off Broadway productions), a National Medal of Arts, and a National Medal of Arts.
For the select group known as the EGOT club—a playful acronym for winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony—the honorary Oscar might not be sufficient. Whether honorary or noncompetitive awards count toward EGOT status has long been a topic of discussion.
The renowned Oscar trophy, which is awarded to celebrities such as Mel Brooks, Sophia Loren, Spike Lee, and others in the film industry, was presented to Jones when she won the honorary Oscar in 2011.
The Los Angeles Times declared that it was insufficient.
“Even though Jones has already won an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony, winners must truly win each award; honorary awards are not considered,” the newspaper stated.
Since “winning the awards in competition is the whole point,” Billboard claims that “most EGOT experts don’t count noncompetitive awards.”. “.
In its reporting on the recipients of the EGOT, The New York Times has observed that “some areas of eligibility, like lifetime achievement awards, are unclear.”. “.
There have only been 21 competitive EGOT winners. The celebrities on the list are Elton John, Viola Davis, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Whoopi Goldberg, Rita Moreno, Audrey Hepburn, and Mel Brooks.
Jones is in good company even if an honorary win isn’t quite the same. Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, and Liza Minnelli are among the other honorary EGOT winners.
