Academy Awards

Diversity at the Academy

Minority nominees’ career directions have followed a different trajectory than whites’, resulting in 72 percent likely to work in television versus 36 percent who succeed in film. Nonwhite winners and nominees make fewer movies annually than whites. They are also less likely than whites to be nominated again.

In such categories as acting, directing, producing, and screenwriting, white artists of diverse ethnic backgrounds have earned Oscars. Some white actors have been nominated or won Oscars for playing people of color. Jeff Chandler (white) was nominated for his performance as Apache Chief Cochise. Luise Rainer (white, German, Jewish) won an award for playing a Chinese farmer, and Linda Hunt (white, American, female) won an award for her performance as an Asian male.

A limited number of Latinos, African Americans, and Asians have won Academy Awards. While the majority of acting Oscars have been awarded to white Americans, many white English-speaking Europeans, Canadians, British, South Africans, and Australians have won, often portraying Americans.

Latinos/Latinas and Hispanic Representation

Latinos/Latinas and Hispanics have been minimally recognized and were often cast in ethnic and non-Latino roles. Anthony Quinn (Mexican American) won two Best Supporting Actor awards, playing Mexican and French nationalities, and was nominated for Best Actor as a Greek. Jose Ferrer (Puerto Rican) won his Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards and received another acting nomination for playing Frenchmen. Supporting Actor awards were won by Benicio del Toro (Puerto Rican) as a Mexican, while Javier Bardem (Spanish) played a character of deliberately unknown ethnicity, which has often been identified as Slavic or Russian.

No Latinas have won the Best Actress award, but three women have won for Best Supporting Actress. Rita Moreno (Puerto Rican) won for actually playing a Puerto Rican; Mercedes Ruehl (Cuban/European American), who has made a career of playing ethnically diverse characters, won her Oscar for playing an Italian American; and Penelope Cruz, the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award, won for her role as a Spanish mentally ill ex-wife.

Latino and Hispanic individuals have been nominated for Best Director Award, but none has won. There have been winners in art direction, cinematography, music, and foreign film categories.

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