List of Hispanic Academy Award winners and nominees explained

See main article: Lists of Hispanic Academy Award winners and nominees by country.

The following are people of Hispanic descent born outside of Latin America, Equatorial Guinea, and Spain who have been nominated for or have won an Academy Award, along with the flag of the country of their Hispanic ancestry. All people listed were born in the United States.

Best Picture

Best Picture

Academy Award for Best Picture
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
2021
(93rd)
Shaka King

Panama

Judas and the Black MessiahFirst American producer of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Picture.
Born in New York to a Panamanian father and a mother of Panamanian descent.
Shared with Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King.

Acting categories

Best Actor

Academy Award for Best Actor
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1988
(61st)
Edward James Olmos

Mexico

Stand and DeliverFirst American actor of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Actor.
Born in California to Mexican parents.
2023
(96th)
Colman Domingo

Guatemala

RustinBorn in Pennsylvania to a Guatemalan father.
First Afro-Latino nominated for Best Actor.
First openly gay Hispanic and Latino to be nominated for Best Actor.

Best Actress

Academy Award for Best Actress
YearNomineeCountryFilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1999
(72nd)
Hilary SwankBoys Don't CryFirst American actress of Hispanic descent to have won twice. Her maternal grandmother, Frances Martha Clough (née Dominguez), was born in El Centro, California, of Mexican descent.[1]
2004
(77th)
Million Dollar Baby
2021
(94th)
Jessica Chastain

Spain

The Eyes of Tammy FayeSecond American actress of Hispanic ancestry to win and first Spanish-American actress to win. Her father Michael Monasterio was of Spanish, Basque, and Greek descent.

Best Supporting Actor

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1947
(20th)
Thomas Gomez

Spain

Ride the Pink HorseFirst and (to date) only American actor of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Born in New York to Spanish-born father.

Best Supporting Actress

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1959
(32nd)
Susan Kohner

Mexico

Imitation of LifeBorn in California to a Mexican mother.
1991
(64th)
Mercedes Ruehl

Cuba

The Fisher KingMaternal grandfather was Cuban.
1993
(66th)
Rosie Perez

Puerto Rico

FearlessBorn in New York to Puerto Rican parents.
2021
(94th)
Ariana DeBose

Puerto Rico

West Side StoryBorn in North Carolina to a Puerto Rican father.
First Afro-Latina to be nominated for and win an acting Oscar.
2023
(96th)
America Ferrera

Honduras

BarbieBorn in California to Honduran-born parents.

Animated categories

Best Animated Feature

Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
2015
(88th)
Jonas Rivera

Mexico

Inside OutBorn in California of Mexican descent.
Shared with Pete Docter.
[2]
2018(91st) CubaBorn in Florida to a Cuban-born mother.
Shared with Christopher Miller.
[3]
2019(92nd)Jonas Rivera

Mexico

Toy Story 4Shared with Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen.
2021(94th)Yvett MerinoEncantoBorn in California to Mexican-born parents.
Shared with Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Clark Spencer.
2023(96th)Phil Lord CubaShared with Christopher Miller.

Best Cinematography

Academy Award for Best Cinematography
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1974
(47th)
John A. Alonzo

Mexico

ChinatownBorn in Texas of Mexican descent.
First American of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best
Cinematography.
1977
(50th)
William A. FrakerLooking for Mr. GoodbarBorn in California to a Mexico-born mother.
First American of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Cinematography.
1978
(51st)
Heaven Can WaitFirst American of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Cinematography more than once.
1979
(52nd)
1941First American of Hispanic descent to earn three consecutive nominations for Best Cinematography.
1983
(56th)
WarGames
1985
(58th)
Murphy's RomanceFirst and (to date) only American of Hispanic descent to be earn five Best Cinematography nominations.[4]

Documentary categories

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject)
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1977
(50th)
Moctesuma Esparza

Mexico

Born in California to Mexican-born parents.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling
YearNameCountry/
territory
FilmStatusMilestone / Notes
2002Beatrice De Alba MexicoFridaFirst Hispanic and Latino makeup artist to be nominated for and win Best Makeup.
Born in California to Mexican-born parents.
Shared with John E. Jackson.

Music categories

Best Original Score

Academy Award for Best Original Score
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
2021
(94th)
Germaine Franco

Mexico

EncantoBorn in California to Mexican-born parents.
First female Hispanic to be nominated for Best Original Score.

Best Original Song

Academy Award for Best Original Song
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmSongStatusNotesRef(s)
1983
(56th)
Irene Cara

Puerto Rico
Cuba

Flashdance"Flashdance... What a Feeling"First Hispanic/Latino American songwriter to win Best Original
Song.
Born in New York to a Puerto Rican-born father and a mother of Cuban descent.
Shared with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey.
1988
(61st)
Carly Simon

Cuba

Working Girl"Let the River Run"Maternal grandmother was Cuban.
2002
(75th)
Luis Resto

Puerto Rico

8 Mile"Lose Yourself"Born in Michigan to Puerto Rican-born parents.
Shared with Eminem and Jeff Bass.
[5]
2016
(89th)
Lin-Manuel MirandaMoana"How Far I'll Go"Born in New York to Puerto Rican-born parents.
First Hispanic songwriter to be nominated for Best Original Song more than once.
2021
(94th)
Encanto"Dos Oruguitas"

Best Visual Effects category

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1979
(52nd)
William A. Fraker

Mexico

1941Born in California to a Mexican-born mother.
Shared with A. D. Flowers and Greg Jein.

Screenplay categories

Best Original Screenplay

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
YearNomineeCountry/
territory
FilmStatusNotesRef(s)
1983
(55th)
Gregory Nava

Mexico

El NorteBorn in California to a father of Mexican descent.
First American of Hispanic descent to be nominated for Best Screenplay.
Shared with Anna Thomas.
2014
(87th)
Alexander Dinelaris Jr.

Puerto Rico
Cuba

BirdmanBorn in New York to a mother of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent.
First American of Hispanic descent to win for Best Screenplay. Shared with Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, and Armando Bó.
[6] [7]
2020
(93rd)
Shaka King PanamaJudas and the Black MessiahBorn in New York to a Panamanian father and a mother of Panamanian descent.
Shared with Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, and Keith Lucas.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Dowling Family Genealogy Frances Martha DOMINGUEZ. Ancestry.com. June 12, 2016. June 13, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160613014236/http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=dowfam3&id=I337854&op=GET. dead.
  2. News: The 88th Academy Awards (2016) Nominees and Winners. January 14, 2016. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160125161918/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016. January 25, 2016.
  3. Web site: The 91st Academy Awards . . 22 January 2019.
  4. News: The 58th Academy Awards (1986) Nominees and Winners. August 27, 2013. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004226/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1986. April 2, 2015.
  5. Web site: The 75th Academy Awards (2003) Nominees and Winners . November 20, 2011 . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141110020903/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2003 . November 10, 2014.
  6. News: The 87th Academy Awards (2015) Nominees and Winners. January 15, 2015. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150310051043/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015. March 10, 2015.
  7. Dinelaris . Alexander . alexdinelaris . 573495358254358529 . 5 March 2015 . While I very much love the Greek people and culture I am not Greek. My father's side is Armenian, my Mother's is Cuban/Puerto Rican #Birdman . 11 February 2020.