#20. Sal Mineo
Age at Awards Show: 17 years, 2 months, 11 days old
Award: Actor in a Supporting Role (1956) for “Rebel Without a Cause”
Result: Nominee
Sal Mineo, a 10-year-old member of a Bronx street gang, began his pursuit of acting when he was presented the ultimatum between acting school or juvenile confinement after being arrested for robbery. This turnaround led him to roles in plays and films, where he achieved mainstream success in James Dean’s “Rebel Without a Cause.” While he continued acting, Mineo expanded his portfolio through a singing career and directing stage productions. His life came to a tragic end at the age of 37 when he was murdered by a pizza delivery man in West Hollywood.