James Cagney

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

James Cagney's place in film history is secured by his singular intensity and versatility. He is one of only a handful of actors to have defined an entire genre, the gangster film, while also winning an Oscar for a musical. The American Film Institute ranked him the eighth greatest male screen legend of all time. His line "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" from White Heat is the 18th most quoted movie line in AFI history. Cagney was also a pioneer in actors' rights, winning a landmark lawsuit against Warner Bros. that set new standards for contract fairness. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, recognizing a lifetime of artistic achievement and service.

AwardsCagney won one competitive Academy Award, for Best Actor in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). He received two additional Oscar nominations, for Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) and Love Me or Leave Me (1955). He did not win competitive Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Emmys, or Tonys, as those ceremonies either did not exist during his prime or he was not nominated. His major non-competitive honors include the AFI Life Achievement Award (1974), the Kennedy Center Honors (1984), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985).

Honours & Distinctions

Presidential Medal of Freedom

President of the United States·1985

Highest civilian award in the United States, awarded by President Ronald Reagan.

Kennedy Center Honors

Kennedy Center·1984

Lifetime contribution to American culture.

AFI Life Achievement Award

American Film Institute·1974

Honored for his lifetime achievements in film.

Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award

Screen Actors Guild·1979

Recognized for his contributions to the acting profession and the guild.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Hollywood Walk of Fame·1960

Star at 1750 Vine Street for motion pictures.

National Board of Review Career Achievement Award

National Board of Review·1984

Awarded for his career achievements.

Rankings & Lists

AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars (Greatest Male Screen Legends)

American Film Institute·1999

#18

AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes

American Film Institute·2005

#33

AFI's 100 Greatest Heroes and Villains (Villains)

American Film Institute·2003

#29

Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters

Premiere Magazine·2005

#17

Entertainment Weekly's 50 Greatest Actors

Entertainment Weekly·1997

Magazine Covers

Time Magazine

1942-07-20

Cover featuring Cagney in character from Yankee Doodle Dandy

Life Magazine

1941-07-14

Cover for The Strawberry Blonde

Life Magazine

1943-01-18

Cover

Life Magazine

1949-08-08

Cover for White Heat

Records & Feats

First actor to win a landmark contract lawsuit against a major Hollywood studio

Career Milestone·1932

In 1932, Cagney successfully sued Warner Bros. over contract disputes, setting a precedent for actors' rights in Hollywood.

One of the few actors to win an Oscar for a musical while defining the gangster genre

Awards·1942

Cagney won Best Actor for Yankee Doodle Dandy (a musical) while also creating iconic gangster roles in The Public Enemy and White Heat.