When you think of Oscar winners, your mind might go to some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, or Greta Gerwig. But some of the winningest individuals in Oscars history actually made their impacts on film behind the scenes, designing costumes for 'Roman Holiday,' bringing dinosaurs to life in 'Jurassic Park,' and composing songs for 'The Little Mermaid.'
While stars such as Streep, Frances McDormand, and Daniel Day-Lewis have won three acting Oscars each, some lesser-known names have won many more. Get to know the achievements and contributions of the 12 people with the most competitive Academy Awards in history.
Hollingshead won his first competitive Oscar for best assistant director in 1933. He also won three best short subject (two-reel) awards, two best short subject (one-reel) awards, and one best documentary (short subject) award.
Quimby received his first Oscar nomination and trophy in 1944 for best short subject (cartoon) for 'Yankee Doodle Mouse.' His other six wins would all come from the same category, which is now called best animated short film.
Rydstrom's seven awards have all come from his work in the sound department. He's been awarded best sound and best sound effects editing for films like 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' 'Jurassic Park,' and 'Saving Private Ryan.'
Day won seven awards for best art direction (now known as best production design), beginning in 1936 with 'The Dark Angel' and concluding in 1954 with 'On the Waterfront.'
Baker has made significant contributions to the world of movie makeup across genres. He received his first nomination and win for best makeup in 1981 for 'An American Werewolf in London.' He had multiple wins in the '90s with films like 'Ed Wood,' 'The Nutty Professor,' and 'Men in Black.'
Willis won eight Oscars for his contributions to set design within the art direction category. His first win came in 1941 for his work in interior direction on 'Blossoms in the Dust,' and his final win came in 1956 for his work in Set Decoration on 'Somebody Up There Likes Me.'
Menken won two Academy Awards for each of his films like 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Aladdin,' and 'Pocahontas,' in the scoring and original song categories.
Muren's work had a significant impact on popular films throughout the '80s and '90s, like 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,' 'Innerspace,' and 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.'
Edith Head, an Oscar-winning costume designer, dressed stars like Audrey Hepburn in classics such as 'Roman Holiday' and 'Sabrina.' She received 35 nominations and designed costumes for films like 'The Heiress,' 'All About Eve,' and 'The Sting.'
Newman, known for films like 'The King and I,' won his awards for his work as a composer, starting in 1938 with 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and ending in 1967 with 'Camelot.'
Gibbons won best art direction 11 times out of 38 nominations, with his first award in 1930 for 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey' and his final win in 1957 for 'Somebody Up There Likes Me.'
Walt Disney dominated the best short subject (cartoon) category throughout the 1930s with projects like 'Flowers and Trees,' 'Ferdinand the Bull,' and 'The Ugly Duckling.' His final competitive Oscar was posthumously awarded in 1969 for 'Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.'
In addition to his competitive awards, Disney also received four non-competitive special awards for his significant contributions to animation and film production.
