Throughout history, countless actors have garnered multiple Oscars for their diverse performances across illustrious careers. Interestingly, certain characters have also claimed multiple Oscars, portrayed by different actors. Notable examples include Joaquin Phoenix and Heath Ledger for the Joker, and Ariana DeBose alongside Rita Moreno for Anita in “West Side Story.” Nevertheless, in the extensive near-century history of the Academy Awards, only one performer has achieved winning two Oscars for the same role.

This remarkable achievement seems almost impossible, yet it indeed occurred once in the 1940s. Moreover, the distinction belongs not to a seasoned actor but to a veteran with no prior acting experience. The entire situation is deeply intriguing, especially considering its improbability in today’s context. It stands as a unique anomaly in Oscars history.

Harold Russell is the remarkable individual who achieved this awards milestone, securing two Oscars for the same role—Homer Parrish in the Academy Award-winning film “The Best Years of Our Lives.” While Russell may not be widely recognized outside of cinephile circles, his acting talent and achievements during awards season deserve acknowledgment. His personal story is as captivating as the unusual circumstances that led to his unique Oscar record—an achievement unmatched by even the likes of legendary actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis or Meryl Streep. Harold Russell’s legacy includes being the only actor to win two Oscars for the same role.

Russell’s portrayal of Homer Parrish was a deeply personal one for the actor, as both he and the character had lost their hands during military service. This quality imbued a sense of lived-in authenticity to Russell’s work. At the time, though, the Academy perceived Russell’s lack of prior acting experience as a signifier that he could never win in the Best Supporting Actor Oscar category. Thus, Russell was given a separate honorary Oscar at the 19th Academy Awards centered on recognizing both the quality of his performance and his military contributions. For folks at The Academy, that seemed to be the end of the story. Russell had his Oscar and the more high-profile Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominees from that year like Charles Coburn and Claude Rains would surely win the award instead.

Fate has a funny way of playing on expectations at the Oscars, though. Just like “Crash” taking a surprise win over “Brokeback Mountain” or countless other shocking Oscar victories, Russell scooped up a Best Supporting Actor Oscar at this same ceremony. The Honorary Oscar meant to cover up an “inevitable” Oscar loss now ensured he had won two Oscars in the same night for portraying Homer Parrish. It was an unbelievably surprising outcome, and it solidified “The Best Years of Our Lives” as that year’s Oscar juggernaut shortly before it won the Best Picture prize.

Understandably, outright euphoria defined Harold Russell’s demeanor as he was graced with two Oscars in the same evening. After securing his honorary Oscar, Russell declared that this was “the proudest and happiest moment of life” before thanking folks like director William Wyler, who made “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Russell also shouted out fellow disabled veterans, who were finally seen on-screen in a narrative film thanks to his “Best Years of Our Lives” presence.

Russell’s time on stage wasn’t over yet, though. Later on in the ceremony, he would take home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, which inspired Russell to give a more succinct yet profoundly grateful speech where he simply said, “Thank you very much. Two in a night is just too much! Thanks a lot.” What else could be said? Scoring two Oscars in the same night for one performance pretty much speaks for itself anyway.

In the ensuing years after the 19th Academy Awards, further major acting roles for Russell were tragically few and far between. However, this Oscar winner still carved out a satisfying life for himself that included a stint living in Cape Cod. During this portion of his life, his house was broken into. Shockingly, per The Cape Cod Times, Harold’s Oscars were totally safe and never touched during the thieving. The enduring nature of those Oscars perfectly encapsulates how Harold Russell’s magnificent performance will never be forgotten in cinema history.