Winning an Academy Award is one of the most prestigious moments in an actor’s career. For many, it’s a chance to thank everyone who helped them along the way—directors, co-stars, family members, and even childhood mentors. Some speeches go on for minutes, with winners trying to squeeze in as many names as possible before the orchestra plays them off the stage. But in 1963, one actress delivered the shortest Oscar speech in history, consisting of just two simple words.
The record for the briefest acceptance speech goes to Patty Duke, who won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. When she stepped onto the stage to accept her golden statue, she simply said: “Thank you.” Then she walked off, making history not just as an Oscar winner but also as the person who gave the shortest speech ever.
At just 16 years old, Duke was one of the youngest winners in Oscar history at the time. Her performance in The Miracle Worker was widely praised, as she portrayed Helen Keller’s struggles and triumphs with remarkable realism and emotion. Many expected a long speech from such a young and newly recognized talent, but instead, she kept it short and sweet.
Duke’s speech stood in stark contrast to some of the longest in Oscar history. For example, Greer Garson, who won Best Actress in 1943 for Mrs. Miniver, reportedly gave a speech that lasted over five minutes! The Academy has since placed time limits on speeches to prevent overly long thank-you lists.
Over the years, other winners have given short speeches, but none as brief as Duke’s. Joe Pesci, who won Best Supporting Actor in 1991 for Goodfellas, gave a speech of just five words: “It’s my privilege, thank you.” Still, Patty Duke remains the undisputed record holder for the shortest Oscar speech ever.
Her two-word acceptance is a reminder that sometimes, simplicity speaks volumes. Instead of a long speech, Duke let her performance do the talking, proving that gratitude doesn’t always require a lot of words.
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