20 Vintage Photos from the Tony Awards Through the Years
20 Vintage Photos from the Tony Awards Through the Years
Stephanie SengweSun, June 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
0
Neil Patrick Harris, Matthew Broderick, Julie TaymorCredit: Theo Wargo/Getty; Betty Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
The Tony Awards have been celebrating excellence in theatre for almost eight decades.
The award show was created by the American Theater Wing in 1947 and named after actress, director and co-founder Antoinette "Tony" Perry, who died in 1946. Though they were established in the '40s, the Tonys weren't nationally televised until they found a home on CBS in 1967.
Through the years, the award show has honored legends of the stage — from Audra McDonald to Bette Midler to Kristin Chenoweth and more. Ahead of the 79th Annual Tony Awards tonight (airing on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS and hosted by Pink), check out vintage photos from the Tony Awards, dating all the way back to 1952.
Related: Tony Award Nominations 2026: The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead the Pack as Major Rivals Score Big — See the Full List
01 of 20
Back in the Day
Credit: Hyman Rothman/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Husband and wife duo Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh (actress Jamie Lee Curtis' parents) smiled for the cameras while attending the Tony Awards in 1952.
02 of 20
Girl Power
Audrey Hepburn, Dolores Grey and Jo Van FleetCredit: Getty
Audrey Hepburn, Dolores Grey and Jo Van Fleet posed with their Tony Awards in this icons-only photo from 1954.
03 of 20
For the Arts
Liza Minnelli and Gower ChampionCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Already a Tony Award winner herself, Liza Minnelli posed with Gower Champion, who snagged two trophies for his work on the musical The Happy Time in 1968.
04 of 20
Good Times
Peter Cook, Bette Midler, Dudley MooreCredit: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Peter Cook, Bette Midler and Dudley Moore shared a good laugh while backstage at the 28th Tony Awards in 1974.
05 of 20
Winner, Winner
Priscilla Lopez and Mandy PatinkinCredit: Robin Platzer/Images/Getty
Best Featured Actor in a Musical winner Mandy Patinkin planted a smooch on Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner Priscilla Lopez in 1980.
06 of 20
Legends Walking
Al Pacino and Diana RossCredit: UPI-Corbis/Bettmann
Al Pacino and Diana Ross were snapped making their way through the crowd after the both received Tonys in 1977. Ross received a Special Tony Award for her Broadway theatrical event, An Evening with Diana Ross, while Pacino was awarded Best Actor in a Drama for his role in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.
07 of 20
First-Timers Club
Matthew BroderickCredit: Betty Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
A baby-faced Matthew Broderick seemed to be reeling from the adrenaline rush of winning his first Tony in 1983. The then-21-year-old became the youngest actor to win Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in Brighton Beach Memoirs.
08 of 20
Powering Through
Chita Rivera and daughter Lisa MordenteCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Not even a leg injury could keep Chita Rivera down (though her legendary high kicks were out of commission for the night). The star, who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 1986, was accompanied by her daughter Lisa Mordente as she attended the show on crutches.
09 of 20
Glitz and Glam
Nell CarterCredit: Catherine McGann/Getty
Ain't Misbehavin' star Nell Carter showed off her diamonds while posing on the carpet at the show in 1989.
Advertisement
10 of 20
Three Is Company
Madonna, Joel Grey and Jennifer GreyCredit: Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty
Madonna posed with father-daughter duo Joel and Jennifer Grey at an afterparty held at Sardi's restaurant in 1988.
11 of 20
Actress Squabble
Nell Carter and Audra McDonaldCredit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Nell Carter playfully tackled Best Featured Actress in a Musical winner Audra McDonald on the red carpet in 1994.
12 of 20
Big Night
Swoosie Kurtz, Kristin Chenoweth, and Ben StillerCredit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Swoosie Kurtz and Ben Stiller posed with Kristin Chenoweth, to whom they had just presented the Best Featured Actress in a Musical trophy for her work in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown back in 1999.
13 of 20
Showstopper
Vanessa WilliamsCredit: Getty
Vanessa Williams looked radiant in a form-fitting embellished dress as she walked the red carpet at the award show in 2002.
14 of 20
Winners Circle
John Lloyd Young , LaChanze, Cynthia Nixon, Richard GriffithsCredit: Evan Agostini/Getty
John Lloyd Young, LaChanze, Cynthia Nixon and Richard Griffiths made for an iconic quartet as they posed with their trophies in 2006 for the four main acting categories.
15 of 20
New Beginnings
Lin-Manuel MirandaCredit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
In the Heights writer Lin-Manuel Miranda was thrilled to have won the Tony for Best Original Score in 2008.
16 of 20
Power Circle
Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kerry Washington, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett SmithCredit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kerry Washington posed with Fela! producers Beyoncé and Jay-Z as well as Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the 64th Annual Tony Awards.
17 of 20
Showing Gratitude
Julie TaymorCredit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
The Lion King director Julie Taymor was lost for words as she accepted the award for Best Direction of a Musical in 1998. She also nabbed a trophy for Best Costume Design that night.
18 of 20
To the Rooftops
Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty
Antonio Banderas sang his heart out while performing with the cast of Nine the Musical in 2003.
19 of 20
Big Opener
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty
Neil Patrick Harris proved to be host with the most as he opened the 2012 show with a performance featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patti LuPone, Amanda Seyfried and more.
20 of 20
Showbiz Baby
James CordenCredit: Theo Wargo/Getty
James Corden showed off his perfect dancing form when he hosted the live broadcast at the Beacon Theatre in 2016.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
