In Hollywood, someone can land their big break overnight. It’s all a matter of finding the right project, having the right role, gaining a lot of publicity, and ultimately, getting recognized for your performance. When it comes to film actors, nothing is more prestigious than the Academy Awards, which is also known as the Oscars. Some won their Oscars later in life while others have only managed to win a single Oscar so far.
Whichever the case, some of these Oscar winners started out in television. At some point, they moved on to doing feature films and delivered award-winning performances.
Denzel Washington
Long before Washington became a bonafide film star, Washington was a cast member of the 80s hit tv show, St. Elsewhere. Since then, the actor has managed to achieve two Oscar wins for his performances in the 1989 movie Glory and 2001 movie Training Day.
Even today, Training Day is recognized as one of the best crime movies from the 2000s. Meanwhile, Washington also scored Oscar nods for his work on several other movies, including Fences, Flight, The Hurricane, Malcolm X, Cry Freedom, and Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Tom Hanks
Today, Hanks is a Hollywood legend known for numerous critically acclaimed performances and his work behind he scenes as a producer and director. Before all this happened, Hanks starred on a show called Bosom Buddies.
The show was eventually cancelled, and Hanks went on to star in feature films. These include Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, for which he won Oscar awards. Forrest Gump is also among the most popular movies set in the south. In addition, it also boasts great visual effects.
Jamie Foxx
Back in the 90s, there was a sketch comedy tv show called In Living Color, which starred some cast members you may recognize today, including Jim Carry, Damon Wayans and yes, Foxx.
Aside from them, the show is also known for its Fly Girls, which included Carrie Ann Inaba and Jennifer Lopez. Meanwhile, in case you’re wondering where the cast of the show is now, Foxx went on to star in several critically acclaimed movies, including Ray, which won him an Oscar. Today, Ray is recognized as one of Foxx’s best movies of all time.
Helen Hunt
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Hunt scored several television gigs, starring in tv movies and appearing in shows such as Amy Prentiss, Swiss Family Robinson, The Fitzpatricks, The Bionic Woman, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, It Takes Two, and St. Elsewhere.
Meanwhile, in the 90s, she landed a role in the movie As Good As It Gets, which also won her an Oscar. Around the same time, Hunt was also busy working on the hit sitcom Mad About You, which also made her one of the highest paid tv actors of all time.
Michael Douglas
Douglas is an award-winning veteran actor who got his start in the 60s series CBS Playhouse. Meanwhile, he was also a series regular in the 70s show The Streets of San Francisco. Around the same time, Douglas also produced the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which on best picture Oscar.
Meanwhile, he also won an Oscar for his performance as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie Wall Street years later. Since then, Douglas has gone on to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He also currently stars in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method.
Goldie Hawn
Ever since she starred in the 60s tv series Good Morning World, Hawn went on to have one of the longest and most successful Hollywood careers to date. Not soon after, Hawn went on to star in the 1969 movie Cactus Flower, which won her an Oscar.
Unfortunately, the actress wasn’t available to accept her award personally as she was filming in London at the time of the 42nd Annual Academy Awards. Instead, actress Raquel Welch accepted the Oscar for Hawn. Since then, Hawn has also become one of the Oscar winners who have starred in Netflix movies.
Morgan Freeman
Prior to achieving superstardom, Freeman starred in the family comedy The Electric Company. He took on several other television roles after that. At some point, however, Freeman turned his attention towards feature films.
Over the years, he would go on to receive multiple Oscar nods following his performance in films like Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, and Invictus. Meanwhile, Freeman won an Oscar for his work on Million Dollar Baby, which has gone on to become one of the greatest boxing movies that have nothing to do with Rocky.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Today, DiCaprio is one of the most bankable Hollywood actors around. Back when he was still a relatively unknown actor in the 90s, DiCaprio appeared in various tv series, including Romper Room, The New Lassie, The Outsiders, Santa Barbara, Roseanne, Parenthood, and Growing Pains.
Since then, the actor had gone on to receive multiple Oscar nominations for his work in critically acclaimed movies such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, The Wolf of Wall Street, and most recently, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. Meanwhile, he finally won for his performance in The Revenant.
Jennifer Lawrence
Before she even rose to fame, Lawrence appeared in various tv series such as Monk, Cold Case, Medium, and The Bill Engvall Show. Around that time, she didn’t think her acting career would further evolve and she was fine with that.
“I was totally satisfied when I was on a sitcom because I had a steady paycheck,” Lawrence told Oprah Winfrey in an interview for The Hollywood Reporter. “I was totally satisfied and good.” Just a few years later, Lawrence started picking up Oscar nominations. She also soon won an Oscar for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook.
George Clooney
As fans may recall, Hollywood first took notice of Clooney after he starred in the hit medical drama ER where he played Dr. Doug Ross. The actor may not have remained on the show throughout its run, but he did reprise his role to help finish the story arc of co-star Julianna Margulies, who had played his love interest.
Executive producer John Wells told Entertainment Weekly that “a very small crew” worked in secrecy to make this appearance a total surprise to fans. Meanwhile, Clooney has since received multiple Oscar nominations and two wins.