Timothée Chalamet entered the 2026 Academy Awards race with a historic distinction when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees on January 22, 2026. At age 30, he earned a Best Actor nomination for his performance in Marty Supreme, officially making him the youngest male actor in history to receive three nominations in the category. The recognition places Chalamet ahead of past record holders such as Marlon Brando and James Dean and marks another defining moment in a career that has developed rapidly over the past decade. In the same year, Marty Supreme also received a Best Picture nomination, with Chalamet credited as a producer, bringing his total Academy Award nominations to four. The information was confirmed through official Oscars announcements and reported by Variety, with additional background documented by Wikipedia.
Timothée Chalamet’s Record-Breaking Best Actor Oscar Journey
His 2026 nod continues a streak that began unusually early in his career, reflecting a body of work that has drawn attention for its emotional depth and demanding transformations. The 2026 nomination establishes him as the youngest man ever to reach three Best Actor nominations, a milestone that highlights both longevity and momentum at a relatively young age.
Before the 2026 announcement, Chalamet had already secured two Best Actor nominations that placed him among elite company. His second nomination arrived at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025 for his portrayal of musician Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, making him the youngest two-time Best Actor nominee since James Dean. Earlier still, his first nomination came at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018, when he was just 22 years old. That recognition made him the third-youngest Best Actor nominee ever and the youngest since 1939, as documented by Wikipedia and contemporaneous awards coverage.
The Films Behind Timothée Chalamet’s Three Best Actor Oscar Nominations
Each of Chalamet’s nominations is tied to a distinct film that reflects a different phase of his artistic growth. His breakthrough role as Elio Perlman in Call Me by Your Name introduced him to global audiences through a nuanced coming-of-age romantic drama. The performance earned widespread critical acclaim and established him as a serious dramatic actor early in his career.
His second nominated role came with A Complete Unknown, a biographical musical drama centered on Bob Dylan. The film required Chalamet to embody a real-life cultural figure, blending musical performance with character study. In 2026, Marty Supreme added a new dimension to his résumé, with Chalamet portraying Marty Mauser, a driven table tennis prodigy in Josh Safdie’s sports dramedy. That performance also earned him major precursor awards, including a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award, as reported by Variety. Together, these films chart a clear trajectory of ambition and versatility that has culminated in an unprecedented Oscars record.
