15 Broadway Icons You May Be Surprised Never Won a Tony Award

With the 2026 Tony Awards right around the corner, there are quite a few heavy-hitters who could take home their first award on Sunday, June 7 — but some may say it’s shocking they haven’t already won.

For starters, this year is the first time Caissie Levy was nominated for a Tony (for her critically acclaimed performance in Ragtime), and her costar Joshua Henry has never won despite being nominated three other times in the past.

Then, there are the legendary actors and creatives who have never won. While Stephen Schwartz was presented with the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, the Wicked songwriter has never received a competitive Tony. 

Below, BroadwayWorld looks at a handful of Broadway greats who have never gotten a Tony — and some who have never even been nominated (at least yet!).  

Julie Andrews

While Julie Andrews has an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards, she is missing a Tony to bring her to EGOT status. The famed English actress, known for starring in the musical films Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, was nominated three times for theater’s highest honor — although she turned one of them down. Andrews received Tony nods for playing Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Guenevere in Camelot. But, as seen in the BroadwayWorld archives, when she was nominated for the title role in Victor/Victoria, she withdrew from the race because she was the only person nominated in the cast and creative team of the 1995 musical. “I have searched my conscience and my heart, and I find that sadly I cannot accept this nomination,” she announced from on stage at the Marquis Theatre, “and I prefer instead to stand with the egregiously overlooked.” She received both the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle for Victor/Victoria.

Lea Michele 

When it was announced that Lea Michele was returning to Broadway after her star turn in Funny Girl to open the revival of Chess, many thought it was finally her year to score a Tony nomination. However, when the nominations were announced on May 5, her name was left off the list. When she was interviewed by the New York Times about her return to Broadway in Funny Girl in 2022, the actress said being ineligible for the award didn’t matter at the time. “You might think that’s the biggest piece of bull that I’m going to say to you all day,” Michele said, “but I really don’t care about that at this point. It’s just about being able to play this part.”  

Meryl Streep 

Though Meryl Streep is often regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her time — and has three Academy Awards to her name — she only has a handful of Broadway credits. She received a Best Featured Actress Tony nomination in 1976 when she appeared in the double bill of Tennessee Williams’ 27 Wagons Full of Cotton (as Flora Meighan) and Arthur Miller’s A Memory of Two Mondays (as Patricia). Though she only has one Tony nod, Streep racked up a handful of Drama Desk nominations throughout the years for her work both Off-Broadway and on. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Streep is considering a return to Broadway opposite frequent costar Martin Short. 

Victor Garber

Though Victor Garber has over a dozen Broadway credits to his name, he never received a Tony Award. He was nominated four times: in 1978 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Deathtrap; in 1982 for Best Actor in a Musical for Little Me; in 1989 for Best Actor in a Play for Lend Me a Tenor; and in 1994 for Best Actor in a Musical for Damn Yankees. Garber did receive a Drama Desk when the Broadway production of Noises Off took home the award for Outstanding Ensemble in 1984.

Raúl Esparza 

Could next season be Raúl Esparza’s year? The four-time Tony Award-nominated actor will return to Broadway for the first time in more than 13 years to star in the new musical Galileo, inspired by the life of Galileo Galilei. Though the leading man has a stacked résumé of Broadway credits, he has yet to take home a Tony. Esparza was previously nominated for playing Philip Sallon in Taboo in 2004; Bobby in Company in 2006; Lenny in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming in 2008; and Charlie Fox in David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow in 2009. However, he won Drama Desks for Taboo, Company and The Homecoming as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award for Company. 

Brian d’Arcy James

With over a dozen Broadway credits to Brian d’Arcy James’ name, it may be surprising that he’s never won a Tony. However, he’s been nominated for five: for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Days of Wine and Roses, Into the Woods, Something Rotten! and Shrek the Musical as well as for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Sweet Smell of Success. He did, however, take home Drama Desks for Days of Wine and Roses and Shrek as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award for Shrek. 

Judy Kuhn 

Judy Kuhn is the voice behind the Oscar-, Grammy- and Golden Globe-winning song “Colors of the Wind” from the 1995 Disney film Pocahontas, but the longtime stage star has never won a Tony Award throughout her decades-long career. She was nominated for her performances in Fun Home, She Loves Me, Chess and Les Misérables. Kuhn received a Lucille Lortel Award for her performance as Helen Bechdel in Fun Home.

Chip Zien

While Chip Zien defined a generation by originating the role of the Baker in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, the beloved stage star has not won — nor been nominated for — a Tony Award. Still, he has quite an impressive résumé. A frequent collaborator with the late William Finn, Zien appeared as Marvin in In Trousers as well as Dr. Mendel in March of the Falsettos, Falsettoland and Falsettos. He also received a Drama Desk nomination for his performance as Mr. Bungee in the original production of A New Brain Off-Broadway. 

Sherie Rene Scott

Sherie Rene Scott has originated some iconic roles, including Amneris in Aida, Ursula in The Little Mermaid and played Cathy Hiatt in the Off-Broadway debut of The Last Five Years (following its premiere in Chicago starring Lauren Kennedy). However, she has never won a Tony Award. The actress was nominated three times: for her performance as Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and for starring in and coauthoring the book of Everyday Rapture. 

Norm Lewis

Though Norm Lewis has only been Tony-nominated once — for his performance as Porgy in the revival of Porgy and Bess — the actor has a long history on Broadway. Some of his credits include Chicago, The Wild Party, Dreamgirls, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid and The Phantom of the Opera, among others. Lewis has also performed on stages on the West End and across the world.  

Kerry Butler

Kerry Butler has played a slew of iconic roles, including Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Eponine in Les Misérables and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, among many more. Butler was Tony-nominated once, for her performance as Clio/Kira in Xanadu, and she was recently celebrated for her performance as Meredith Parker in the New York City Center production of Bat Boy. Butler previously played the role of Meredith’s daughter, Shelly, when the cult musical made its Off-Broadway debut in 2001.   

Andrew Rannells

Andrew Rannells starred as Elder Price in the hit musical The Book of Mormon, and though the production took home nine Tony Awards at the 65th Tonys, Rannells and costar Josh Gad did not win for their performances in the Leading Actor category (it went to Norbert Leo Butz for Catch Me If You Can). Rannells was also Tony-nominated for his performance as Whizzer in the revival for Falsettos, and he’s appeared on Broadway in numerous leading roles. Some of his other credits include Gutenberg! The Musical, The Boys in the Band, Hamilton, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Jersey Boys and Hairspray, among others.

Terrence Mann 

Terrence Mann has an expansive Broadway career that has earned him three Tony Award nods. The prolific actor was nominated for his performances as Javert in the original Broadway production of Les Misérables, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast and King Charlemagne in Pippin (he received the Outer Critics Circle Award for that production). Mann’s résumé is stacked: He’s also appeared in Barnum, Cats, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Rocky Horror Show, The Addams Family, Finding Neverland, Tuck Everlasting and The Great Gatsby, among others. 

Carolee Carmello

Carolee Carmello is known for many iconic Broadway performances. She was Tony-nominated for playing Lucille Frank in Parade, Gabrielle in Lestat and Aimee Semple McPherson in Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson. Though she has yet to take home a Tony, she was awarded the Drama Desk for her performance in Parade. Carmello has also been seen in Bad Cinderella, 1776 (both the 1997 and 2022 revivals), Tuck Everlasting, Sister Act, Urinetown and many more.

Mary Testa

Mary Testa has been Tony-nominated three times, but she has yet to take home the award. The actress received nominations for her performances in On the Town, 42nd Street and Oklahoma!. Her Broadway credits also include Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, Marie Christine, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and more.