| SpecialTony Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Special Tony Award |
| Location | United StatesNew York City |
| Presented by | American Theatre WingThe Broadway League |
| Website | TonyAwards.com |
The Special Tony Award category includes theLifetime Achievement Tony Award and theSpecial Tony Award. These are non-competitive honorary awards, and the titles have changed over the years. The Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre is to "honor an individual for the body of their work."[1] (TheTony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event was a competitive award, given from 2001 to 2009.) Another non-competitive Tony award is theTony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, to "recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that do not fit into any of the competitive categories."[1]
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 1st Tony Awards | Dora Chamberlain | Unfailing courtesy as treasurer of theMartin Beck Theatre |
| Ira and Rita Katzenberg | Enthusiasm as inveterate first-nighters | |
| Jules Leventhal | Being the season's most prolific backer and producer | |
| Burns Mantle | The annual publication ofThe Ten Best Plays | |
| P. A. MacDonald | Intricate construction for the production ofIf the Shoe Fits | |
| Vincent Sardi Sr. | Providing a transient home and comfort station for theatre folk atSardi's for 20 years | |
| 1948 2nd Tony Awards | Rosalind Gilder | Contribution to theatre through a publication forTheatre Arts |
| Vera Allen | Distinguished wing volunteer worker through the war and after | |
| Paul Beisman | Progressive Theatre Operators to Operator of the American Theatre, St. Louis | |
| Joe E. Brown | Spreading theatre to the country inHarvey, while the originals perform in New York | |
| Cast ofThe Importance of Being Earnest | Outstanding Foreign Company | |
| Robert W. Dowling | Progressive theatre operators to President of City Investing Company, St. Louis | |
| Experimental Theatre Inc. | Experiment in theatre | |
| June Lockhart | Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer forFor Love or Money | |
| Mary Martin | Spreading theatre to the country inAnnie Get Your Gun, while the originals perform in New York | |
| George Pierce | Twenty-five years of courteous and efficient service as a backstage doorman at theEmpire Theatre | |
| James Whitmore | Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer forCommand Decision | |
| 1949 3rd Tony Awards | — | |
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 4th Tony Awards | Maurice Evans | Special recognition for guiding the City Center Theatre Company through a highly successful season |
| Philip Faversham | Representing those workers from theAmerican Theatre Wing's hospital program who had performed hospital volunteer work outside of New York | |
| Brock Pemberton(posthumous) | Founder of awards and its original chairman | |
| 1951 5th Tony Awards | Ruth Green | Her services as a volunteer in arranging reservation and seating for the five Tony Awards |
| 1952 6th Tony Awards | Charles Boyer | His performance inDon Juan in Hell, thereby assisting in a new theatre trend |
| Judy Garland | An important contribution to the revival of vaudeville through her recent stint at thePalace Theatre | |
| Edward Kook | His contributing to and encouraging the development of stage lighting and electronics | |
| 1953 7th Tony Awards | Danny Kaye | Heading a variety bill at thePalace Theatre. Equity Community Theatre |
| Beatrice Lillie | Her performance inAn Evening with Beatrice Lillie | |
| 1954 8th Tony Awards | — | |
| 1955 9th Tony Awards | Proscenium Productions | Presented to Warren Enters,Robert Merriman and Sybil Trubin for high quality and viewpoints shown inThe Way of the World andThieves Carnival |
| 1956 10th Tony Awards | Fourth Street Chekov Theatre | |
| City Center | ||
| The New York Public Library Theatre Collection | Presented to founder George Freedley for its distinguished service to the theatre | |
| The Shakespearewrights | ||
| The Threepenny Opera | Presented to producerCarmen Capalbo for her distinguished Off-Broadway production | |
| 1957 11th Tony Awards | American Shakespeare Festival | |
| Jean-Louis Barrault | ||
| Robert Russell Bennett | ||
| William Hammerstein | ||
| Joseph Harbuck | His performance inAuntie Mame | |
| Paul Shyre | ||
| 1958 12th Tony Awards | Louise Heims Beck | Fifteen years of untiring dedication to theAmerican Theatre Wing, which she served as treasurer, secretary and chairman of the board of directors |
| New York Shakespeare Festival | Presenting free performances inCentral Park and the Hecksher Theater | |
| 1959 13th Tony Awards | Russel Crouse andHoward Lindsay | A collaboration that lasted longer thanGilbert and Sullivan |
| John Gielgud | Contribution to theatre for his extraordinary insight into the writings ofShakespeare as demonstrated in his one-man play,Ages of Man | |
| Cast ofLa Plume de Ma Tante | Contribution to the theatre | |
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 14th Tony Awards | Burgess Meredith andJames Thurber | Their production ofA Thurber Carnival |
| John D. Rockefeller III | Vision and leadership in creating theLincoln Center, a landmark of theatre encompassing the performing arts | |
| 1961 15th Tony Awards | David Merrick | In recognition of a fabulous production record over the last seven years |
| The Theatre Guild | Organizing the first repertory to go abroad for theState Department; presented toWarren Caro[2] | |
| 1962 16th Tony Awards | Brooks Atkinson | His influential theatre critique inThe New York Times |
| Richard Rodgers | All he has done for young people in the theatre and for taking the men of the orchestra out of the pit and putting them on stage inNo Strings | |
| Franco Zeffirelli | His designs and direction of theOld Vic'sRomeo and Juliet | |
| 1963 17th Tony Awards | Alan Bennett,Peter Cook,Jonathan Miller andDudley Moore | Their brilliance inBeyond the Fringe, which has shattered all the old concepts of comedy |
| Irving Berlin | His distinguished contribution to the musical theatre for these many years | |
| W. McNeil Lowry | On behalf of theFord Foundation for his and their distinguished support of the American Theatre | |
| 1964 18th Tony Awards | Eva Le Gallienne | Celebrating her 50th year as an actress, honored for her work with the National Repertory Theatre |
| 1965 19th Tony Awards | Gilbert Miller | Producing 88 plays and musicals and for his perseverance which has helped to keep New York and theatre alive |
| Oliver Smith | ||
| 1966 20th Tony Awards | Helen Menken | A lifetime of devotion and dedicated service to the Broadway theatre |
| 1967 21st Tony Awards | — | |
| 1968 22nd Tony Awards | APA-Phoenix Theatre | |
| Pearl Bailey | ||
| Carol Channing | ||
| Maurice Chevalier | ||
| Marlene Dietrich | ||
| Audrey Hepburn | ||
| David Merrick | ||
| 1969 23rd Tony Awards | Leonard Bernstein | |
| Carol Burnett | ||
| Rex Harrison | ||
| The National Theatre of England | ||
| TheNegro Ensemble Company | ||
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 24th Tony Awards | Noël Coward | Multiple and immortal contributions to the theatre |
| Lynn Fontanne andAlfred Lunt | ||
| New York Shakespeare Festival | Pioneering efforts on behalf of new plays | |
| Barbra Streisand | Star of the Decade | |
| 1971 25th Tony Awards | Ingram Ash | Decades of devoted service to the theatre |
| Elliot Norton | Distinguished theatrical commentary | |
| Playbill | Chronicling Broadway through the years | |
| Roger L. Stevens | ||
| 1972 26th Tony Awards | Fiddler on the Roof | Presented toHarold Prince for becoming the longest-running musical in Broadway history |
| Ethel Merman | ||
| Richard Rodgers | ||
| TheTheatre Guild-American Theatre Society | Its many years of service to audiences for touring shows; presented toWarren Caro[2] | |
| 1973 27th Tony Awards | John Lindsay (Mayor of New York City) | |
| Shubert Organization | ||
| The Actor's Fund of America | ||
| 1974 28th Tony Awards | Actors' Equity Association | |
| A Moon for the Misbegotten | An outstanding dramatic revival of an American classic | |
| Candide | An outstanding contribution to the artistic development of the musical theatre | |
| Peter Cook andDudley Moore | Co-stars and authors ofGood Evening | |
| Harold Friedlander | Theatre Award '74 | |
| Bette Midler | Adding lustre to the Broadway season | |
| Liza Minnelli | Adding lustre to the Broadway season | |
| The Theatre Development Fund | ||
| John F. Wharton | Theatre Award '74 | |
| 1975 29th Tony Awards | Al Hirschfeld | Fifty years of theatrical cartoons |
| 1976 30th Tony Awards | George Abbott | Lawrence Langner Award |
| Richard Burton | ||
| Circle in the Square | Twenty-five continuous years of quality productions | |
| Thomas H. Fitzgerald(Posthumous) | Gifted lighting in countless Broadway shows and many Tony telecasts | |
| Mathilde Pincus | Outstanding service to the Broadway musical theatre | |
| 1977 31st Tony Awards | Cheryl Crawford | Lawrence Langner Award |
| Equity Liberty Theatre | ||
| Barry Manilow | ||
| National Theatre of the Deaf | ||
| Diana Ross | ||
| Lily Tomlin | ||
| 1978 32nd Tony Awards | Irving Berlin | Lawrence Langner Award |
| Stan Dragoti and Charles Moss | To the creators of theI Love New York Broadway show tours and its sponsor, theNew York State Department of Commerce | |
| 1979 33rd Tony Awards | Walter F. Diehl | Being an active force in advancing the well-being of the Broadway theatre and of theatre nationally |
| Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center | ||
| Henry Fonda | ||
| Richard Rodgers | Lawrence Langner Award | |
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 34th Tony Awards | Richard Fitzgerald | Installing the infrared system in Broadway theatres, thus bringing the compassion and dedication of making theatergoing for those with impaired hearing, rewarding and enjoyable |
| Goodspeed Musicals | ||
| Helen Hayes | Lawrence Langner Award | |
| Mary Tyler Moore | Her performance inWhose Life Is It Anyway? | |
| Hobe Morrison | Theatre Award '80 | |
| 1981 35th Tony Awards | Lena Horne | Her performance inLena Horne: The Lady and Her Music |
| 1982 36th Tony Awards | Radio City Music Hall | Theatre Award '82 |
| The Actors' Fund of America | ||
| Warner Communications | Theatre Award '82 | |
| 1983 37th Tony Awards | — | |
| 1984 38th Tony Awards | A Chorus Line | In honor of becoming Broadway's longest-running musical |
| Peter Feller | A master craftsman who has devoted forty years to theatre stagecraft and magic | |
| Al Hirschfeld | Brooks Atkinson Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre | |
| La Tragedie de Carmen | Outstanding achievement in musical theatre | |
| 1985 39th Tony Awards | Yul Brynner | Honoring his 4,525 performances inThe King and I |
| New York State Council on the Arts | ||
| 1986 40th Tony Awards | — | |
| 1987 41st Tony Awards | George Abbott | On the occasion of his 100th birthday |
| Jackie Mason | His performance inThe World According to Me | |
| Robert Preston | Lawrence Langner Award (posthumously) | |
| 1988 42nd Tony Awards | Brooklyn Academy of Music | |
| 1989 43rd Tony Awards | — | |
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 – 1992 | — | |
| 1993 47th Tony Awards | Oklahoma! | 50th anniversary |
| 1994 48th Tony Awards | Hume Cronyn andJessica Tandy | Lifetime Achievement |
| 1995 49th Tony Awards | Carol Channing | Lifetime Achievement |
| National Endowment for the Arts | Tony Honor | |
| Harvey Sabinson | Lifetime Achievement after 50 years in the theater | |
| 1996 50th Tony Awards | — | |
| 1997 51st Tony Awards | Bernard B. Jacobs | Lifetime Achievement |
| 1998 52nd Tony Awards | Edward E. Colton | Lifetime Achievement |
| Ben Edwards | ||
| 1999 53rd Tony Awards | Uta Hagen | Lifetime Achievement |
| Arthur Miller | ||
| Isabelle Stevenson | ||
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 54th Tony Awards | Dame Edna: The Royal Tour | Live Theatrical Presentation |
| T. Edward Hambleton | Lifetime Achievement | |
| 2001 55th Tony Awards | Paul Gemignani | Lifetime Achievement |
| 2002 56th Tony Awards | Julie Harris | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| Robert Whitehead (theatre producer) | ||
| 2003 57th Tony Awards | Cy Feuer | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam on Broadway | Special Theatrical Event (Competitive) | |
| 2004 58th Tony Awards | James M. Nederlander | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| 2005 59th Tony Awards | Edward Albee | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| 2006 60th Tony Awards | Sarah Jones | Her performance inBridge and Tunnel |
| Harold Prince | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre | |
| 2007 61st Tony Awards | — | |
| 2008 62nd Tony Awards | Robert Russell Bennett | In recognition of his contribution to the field of orchestrations |
| Stephen Sondheim | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre | |
| 2009 63rd Tony Awards | Jerry Herman | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| Year | Recipient | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 74th Tony Awards | Graciela Daniele | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| The Broadway Advocacy Coalition | ||
| David Byrne'sAmerican Utopia | ||
| Freestyle Love Supreme | ||
| 2021 No ceremony | — | |
| 2022 75th Tony Awards | Angela Lansbury | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| James C. Nicola | ||
| 2023 76th Tony Awards | Joel Grey | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| John Kander | ||
| 2024 77th Tony Awards | Jack O'Brien | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| George C. Wolfe | ||
| Alex Edelman | "Exemplary debut" forJust for Us | |
| Abe Jacob | Modern theatrical sound design | |
| Nikiya Mathis | Hair and wig design forJaja's African Hair Braiding | |
| 2025 78th Tony Awards | Harvey Fierstein | Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre |
| Marco Paguia(music director, conductor/piano); David Oquendo(associate music director, guitar); Renesito Avich(tres); Gustavo Schartz(bass); Javier Días, Román Diaz, Mauricio Herrera(percussion); Jesus Ricardo(trumpet); Eddie Venegas(trombone); Hery Paz(woodwinds); and Leonardo Reyna(piano) | The musicians who make up the band ofBuena Vista Social Club | |
| Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher, Gary Beestone, and Edward Pierce | The illusions and technical effects ofStranger Things: The First Shadow | |