Oscars: Youngest Best Actor Nominees

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Oscars: Youngest Best Actor Nominees

Oscars: Youngest Best Actor Nominees
Jackie Cooper — 9 years, 20 days
Mickey Rooney — 19 years, 142 days
Mickey Rooney — 23 years, 137 days
John Travolta — 24 years, 3 days
James Dean — 25 years, 10 days
James Dean — 26 years, 10 days
Ryan Gosling — 26 years, 72 days
Orson Welles — 26 years, 279 days
Heath Ledger — 26 years, 302 days
Jesse Eisenberg — 27 years, 112 days

Eight actors hold the Top 10 spots for the youngest Best Actor nominees in Oscar history. Unfortunately, none of these youngsters were able to pull off a win. At only nine years old, Jackie Cooper is the youngest person to ever receive a Best Actor nomination. He received the honor for “Skippy” (1931) and has held the record for more than eight decades now. Who are the other youngest Best Actor nominees? Click through our Oscars photo gallery above to find out.

-By Misty Holland

“Skippy” (1931)

In 1931 Jackie Cooper was nominated for his role of Skippy Skinner in “Skippy.” He is the youngest nominee at nine years old. He lost the Oscar to Lionel Barrymore (“A Free Soul”).

“Babes in Arms” (1939)

Mickey Rooney’s first of two Best Actor nominations came in 1939 for his role as Mickey Moran in “Babes in Arms” when he was just 19 years old. He lost the Oscar to Robert Donat (“Goodbye, Mr. Chips”).

“The Human Comedy” (1943)

At age 23 Mickey Rooney was nominated again in 1943 for his role as Homer Macauley in “The Human Comedy.” He lost the Oscar to Paul Lukas (“Watch on the Rhine”).

“Saturday Night Fever” (1977)

John Travolta received his nomination when he was 24 for his now-iconic role as Anthony “Tony” Manero in 1977’s “Saturday Night Fever.” He lost the Oscar to Richard Dreyfuss (“The Goodbye Girl”).

“East of Eden” (1955)

Both of James Dean’s Oscar nominations came posthumous, the first in 1955 for his role as Caleb Track in “East of Eden” when he was 25 years old. He lost the Oscar to Ernest Borgnine (“Marty”).

“Giant” (1956)

James Dean was nominated posthumously again the following year for 1956’s “Giant.” James was 26 when he took on the role of Jett Rink. He lost the Oscar to Yul Brynner (“The King and I”).

“Half Nelson” (2006)

Four actors make the list at the age of 26. Ryan Gosling follows James Dean for his role as Dan Dunne in the 2006 drama “Half Nelson.” He lost the Oscar to Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”).

“Citizen Kane” (1941)

Orson Welles is the third actor on the list to be nominated at the age of 26. Orson received his nomination in 1941 for his role as Charles Foster Kane in the classic “Citizen Kane.” He lost the Oscar to Gary Cooper (“Sergeant York”).

“Brokeback Mountain” (2005)

Heath Ledger ends the age 26 streak for his role as Ennis Del Mar in 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain.” Ledger passed away in 2008 at the age of 28. He lost the Oscar to Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”).

“The Social Network” (2010)

Jesse Eisenberg finishes up the list at the age of 27 for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2010’s “The Social Network.” He lost the Oscar to Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”).

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