Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman dominated the 79th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, winning six awards—the most of any production that night—and becoming the most Tony Award-winning play revival in history, according to multiple sources including the New York Theatre Guide and The Hollywood Reporter.
John Lithgow won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his portrayal of author Roald Dahl in Giant, making him the oldest male actor ever to win a competitive acting Tony at age 80, according to Deadline and Variety. Lithgow’s win capped a 53-year span since his first Tony Award.
Lesley Manville won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her Broadway debut in Oedipus, according to Playbill and the BBC. The British actress earned her first Tony Award for playing Jocasta in the Greek tragedy revival directed by Robert Icke.
The Death of a Salesman revival, directed by Joe Mantello, claimed six wins across multiple categories. Laurie Metcalf won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her role as Linda Loman, and Mantello himself won for Best Direction of a Play, according to Variety. The production also won Best Revival of a Play, with Nathan Lane accepting the award on behalf of the producers, according to Playbill.
The six wins mark a historic milestone for the play. Arthur Miller’s classic had previously won the Best Revival of a Play Tony in 1984, 1999, and 2012, according to the New York Times. With its 2026 victory, Death of a Salesman became the first play in history to win the Best Revival Tony four times, and the most-awarded play revival overall in the 32-year history of the category, according to the New York Theatre Guide.
The 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk at Radio City Music Hall, celebrated Broadway’s biggest night with wins spread across multiple productions. While Schmigadoon! won Best Musical, Death of a Salesman led the evening in total wins, reflecting the continued strength of classic plays on the contemporary Broadway stage.
Sources
- Variety — Death of a Salesman’s six wins including best revival, featured actress, and direction; John Lithgow’s oldest male acting Tony win at 80
- Deadline — John Lithgow becoming oldest winner of Tony for lead actor in a play
- The New York Theatre Guide — Death of a Salesman becoming most Tony Award-winning play revival in history; prior wins in 1984, 1999, and 2012
- Playbill — Lesley Manville’s first Tony win for Oedipus; Nathan Lane accepting Best Revival award; Laurie Metcalf’s featured actress win
- BBC — Lesley Manville’s first Tony Award for Oedipus; John Lithgow’s historic win as oldest male acting Tony winner
- The New York Times — Death of a Salesman’s prior Best Revival wins in 1984, 1999, and 2012
- The Hollywood Reporter — Death of a Salesman’s six wins and Joe Mantello’s direction win
