In 2008, Boyd Gaines became the first male performer to win four Tony Awards. In 2016, Frank Langella became the second to do so. They share the record as the most-awarded male performers in Tony history. Nathan Lane now has a chance to join their company if he wins Best Actor in a Play honors for Death of a Salesman at the 2026 Tony Awards.
Joe Mantello’s acclaimed revival of Arthur Miller’s 1949 classic casts Lane as Willy Loman, one of the most famous roles in contemporary American theater. Since Lee J. Cobb originated the role on Broadway, an esteemed group of actors have been nominated for the show’s many revivals, including George C. Scott in 1976, Brian Dennehy in 1999, Philip Seymour Hoffman in 2012, and Wendell Pierce in 2023. Of that quartet, only Dennehy took home a statuette.
During his career, Gaines won Tonys for the following productions:
- The Heidi Chronicles (1989)
- She Loves Me (1994)
- Contact (2000)
- Gypsy (2008)
Meanwhile, Langella’s four victories were for:
- Seascape (1975)
- Fortune’s Fool (2002)
- Frost/Nixon (2007)
- The Father (2016)
Lane’s own wins are for the following productions:
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996)
- The Producers (2001)
- Angels in America (2018)
Several critics agree that Lane’s performance as Willy Loman is worthy of a fourth Tony. The Hollywood Reporter hailed it as an “expertly judged performance that hits every lacerating note of pathos without denying the self-deluding character’s belligerence or entirely muffling the actor’s innate humor.”
Best Actor (Play)
1.
2.
Nathan Lane
Death of a Salesman
3.
4.
Daniel Radcliffe
Every Brilliant Thing
5.
According to Gold Derby’s current predictions, Lane is in second place to win Best Actor in a Play with 26% behind John Lithgow (Giant) at 69%. The rest of the lineup in descending probability order: Mark Strong (Oedipus), Daniel Radcliffe (Every Brilliant Thing), and Will Harrison (Punch).
Death of a Salesman is predicted to take home Best Play Revival, Best Featured Actress in a Play (Laurie Metcalf), Best Featured Actor in a Play (Christopher Abbott), Best Direction of a Play (Joe Mantello), and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jack Knowles). The production’s strong showings at various precursor ceremonies — including the Outer Critics Circle, the Drama League, and the Drama Desk Awards — further point to its front-runner status. If the productions proves to be as strong as predictors are anticipating, Lane could very well go along for the ride.
