How many Oscars has Sean Penn won? Best Supporting Actor winner ties record

Sean Penn at Opening Ceremony of 17th Film Festival Lumiere

...

Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

The 98th Academy Awards brought another award win for actor Sean Penn, who didn't attend the event along with his "One Battle After Another" co-stars and the film's director, Paul Thomas Anderson.

Penn picked up his latest Oscar for his role as Colonel Lockjaw in the film, besting others in the Best Supporting Actor category, including Delroy Lindo from “Sinners,” Jacob Elordi from “Frankenstein,” Stellan Skarsgard from “Sentimental Value,” and his “One Battle” co-star, Benecio del Toro.

Last year's winner, Kieran Culkin, presented the award on stage and did a bit of playful roasting when he announced Penn as this year's Best Supporting Actor.

Read More on Movies

"Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening — or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf," Culkin announced before leaving the stage with the trophy in hand.

Sean Penn at Opening Ceremony of 17th Film Festival Lumiere

...

Sunday's Oscar was his first Best Supporting Actor win, and third overall acting award win. He previously claimed two other award wins, both in the Best Actor category. Penn also won for his portrayal of gay activist and politician Harvey Milk in 2008’s “Milk” and as an ex-con in 2003’s “Mystic River.”

With that, Penn officially became the fourth male actor in an exclusive group. He's now won three acting awards, tying fellow greats that include Jack Nicholson and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Nicholson won Best Actor in 1976 for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” and in 1998 for “As Good As It Gets.” In addition, he claimed the Best Supporting Actor in 1984 for “Terms of Endearment.”

Lewis won all three of his awards in the Best Actor category, claiming them in "My Left Foot" in 1990, "There Will Be Blood" in 2008, and for "Lincoln" in 2013.

The late Brennan won his three awards for Best Supporting Actor. He first won in 1936 for “Come and Get It,” and followed with a second win in 1938 for “Kentucky,” before getting his third for “The Westerner” in 1940.

Penn has received other big Oscar nominations in his career. Those included Best Actor nominations for “I Am Sam,” “Sweet and Lowdown,” and “Dead Man Walking.”

While his historic feat is impressive, his absence from the Academy Awards ceremony will have people talking for a bit, as he also missed being part of the ensemble cast and crew on stage to accept the Best Picture Award for "One Battle After Another."