Academy Awards 2016: 22 Youngest Winners and Nominees

#18. Patty Duke

Age at Awards Show: 16 years, 3 months, 25 days old
Award: Actress in a Supporting Role (1963) for “The Miracle Worker”
Result: Winner

Patty Duke’s breakthrough role as Helen Keller began at the age of 12 on the Broadway stage in “The Miracle Worker.” Her performance in the film adaptation led to her becoming the youngest person to win an Oscar (before Tatum O’Neal). Duke went on to have a highly successful acting career but also wrote books and pursues activism. She was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985-1988.