First Jewish Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

Herman J. Mankiewicz became the first Jewish winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay on 26 February 1942. The achievement occurred in Los Angeles, California, where he shared the award for "Writing (Original Screenplay) — Citizen Kane" with Orson Welles at the 14th Academy Awards. This record identifies the earliest Jewish screenwriter to win in the Oscar category that is now known as Best Original Screenplay.

The record was established through a chronological review of Academy Award winners, combined with a Jewish-recipient chronology. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles were the official winners for the Citizen Kane screenplay. Public source material from JINFO, which compiles lists of Jewish award recipients, confirms that the timeline of Jewish winners for Best Original Screenplay begins with Mankiewicz for this achievement, thereby substantiating his status as the first.