Where would the film industry be without young actors? While many have come and gone without much fanfare or effect, some have truly made their mark. Here are some of the youngest actors ever to be recognized by the Academy for their outstanding performances.



Nominees

Mickey Rooney
Already having been an established child actor, Rooney successfully maintained his career throughout adolescence and capped it with an Oscar nomination at age 20 for Babes in Arms.

Justin Henry
Henry was nominated for his first-ever film appearance. His role as a child between divorcing parents in Kramer vs. Kramer earned him a nod for Best Supporting Actor in the 1980 Academy Awards.

Jackie Cooper
Cooper remains one of the youngest to be nominated for Best Actor. He was only nine years old when he was nominated in 1931 for Skippy, a film based on a comic strip at the time.


Keshia Castle-Hughes
Born in 1990, Castle-Hughes is the only other person besides Cooper to be nominated for Best Actor/Actress before they turned 18. Her nomination was for her role as Paikea in Whale Rider (2002).



Winners

Tatum O'Neal
Winning Best Supporting Actress at age eight for her performance as a young con artist in Paper Moon (1973), O'Neal remains the youngest person ever to receive an Oscar.

Timothy Hutton
Hutton nabbed Best Supporting Actor in 1980 for Ordinary People, a film about an affluent family dealing with the death of the older son. He was 20 years old when he received his award.

Marlee Matlin
At 21, Matlin became the youngest person ever to take home the Oscar for Best Actress. Her award-winning performance was that of a mute girl named Sarah in The Children of a Lesser God (1986).

Unfortunately, not all of these young stars went on to have great film careers. Some have dropped out of the spotlight completely. Rooney has been one of the most successful and has over 300 acting credits to his name.