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20 of the Youngest Actors to Nab Oscar Nominations (Including One Record-Holder Who Was Nominated at Age 8!)
Mar 2, 2025
Age really is just a number when rounding out the nominees for the Academy Awards ballot.
Since films feature characters ranging from newborn babies to supernatural beings who have existed for hundreds or thousands of years, the actors playing them span from days to decades-old (plus some help from makeup and effects departments). Though prestige pictures often feature themes aimed at adults, children are sometimes at the forefront of the story, leading to powerful performances from young actors at varying stages of their careers.
The list below highlights young celebs who earned praise for a film debut while other actors had already been in the industry trenches for more than a decade — even though no one mentioned is over the age of 20.
Ahead, here are some of the youngest acting nominees in Oscars history.
Justin Henry
Justin Henry, who played Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman's son Billy in 1979's Kramer vs. Kramer, earned an Oscar nomination at just 8 years old for his part, which was also his first time acting. The nomination made him the youngest Oscar acting nominee of all time, a record he still holds.
Henry has acted off and on since his nomination, with credits including 1984's Sixteen Candles, two episodes of ER in 1997 and a 2010 episode of Brothers & Sisters, among other films and TV appearances.
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