Golden Globes History & Facts

Explore the complete history of the Golden Globes from 1944 to present. Discover interesting facts, trivia, records, and milestones from throughout the Golden Globe Awards' rich 83-year history.

Golden Globes At a Glance

Quick facts about the Golden Globe Awards

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First Ceremony

1944

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Total Ceremonies

83 (2026)

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Categories

27

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Organization

HFPA

Historical Timeline

Key moments in Golden Globes history

1944

First Golden Globe Awards ceremony held

1952

Cecil B. DeMille Award established

1956

Television categories added

2019

Carol Burnett Award established

2024

Podcast categories added

Records & Milestones

The most impressive records in Golden Globes history

Most Wins

  • #1

    Meryl Streep

    8 wins

    Actress categories

  • #2

    Barbra Streisand

    5 wins

    Various categories

  • #3

    Tom Hanks

    4 wins

    Actor categories

Most Nominations

  • #1

    Meryl Streep

    33 nominations

    Most nominated individual

  • #2

    Steven Spielberg

    15 nominations

    Most nominated director

  • #3

    Yo-Yo Ma

    9 nominations

    Most nominated musician

Biggest Winners

  • #1

    La La Land (2016)

    7 awards

    Most wins for a film

  • #2

    Flying Over a Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

    6 awards

    Most wins for a drama

  • #3

    The Golden Girls (1986)

    5 awards

    Most wins for a TV series

Interesting Facts & Trivia

Fascinating facts about the Golden Globes

The Award Statue

The Golden Globe statue is wrapped in gold-plated zinc and stands 11 inches tall, weighing 5.5 pounds. It depicts a globe surrounded by a strip of film.

Unique Voting Process

Unlike the Oscars, Golden Globe winners are chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a group of international journalists.

Telecast History

The Golden Globes was first televised nationally in 1958 and has been one of the most-watched awards shows ever since.

Red Carpet Tradition

The Golden Globes red carpet is known as the 'party before the party' and kicks off the awards season every January.

Youngest Winner

The youngest Golden Globe winner was Ricky Schroder, who won Best New Star of the Year in 1979 at age 9.

Longest Ceremony

The longest Golden Globes ceremony was in 2020, lasting 3 hours and 12 minutes.

About Golden Globes History

The Golden Globes have been honoring excellence in film and television since 1944, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in entertainment. Founded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Golden Globes began as a small dinner gathering and has grown into one of the most-watched awards shows globally.

Throughout Golden Globes history, the awards have recognized legendary performers, groundbreaking films, and revolutionary television series. From the early days of Hollywood's Golden Age to the streaming era, the Golden Globes have evolved while maintaining their tradition of celebrating excellence in entertainment.

Browse All Historical Winners →