Actors who won two Oscars in a row form the Academy's smallest acting elite — only five performers have claimed consecutive competitive statuettes in the same category across nearly a century of ceremonies.

Luise Rainer opened the actors who won two Oscars in a row ledger at the 9th and 10th Academy Awards — Best Actress for The Great Ziegfeld and The Good Earth, the first consecutive acting sweep in Oscar history.

Spencer Tracy followed immediately — Best Actor wins for Captains Courageous and Boys Town at the 10th and 11th ceremonies, making him the first male member of the actors who won two Oscars in a row club.

Katharine Hepburn won consecutive Best Actress statuettes for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter — joining actors who won two Oscars in a row while building a record four-win career overall.

Jason Robards won back-to-back Supporting Actor Oscars in 1977–78; Tom Hanks closed the club with consecutive Best Actor wins for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump — the last new entrant among actors who won two Oscars in a row.