Between the play’s 1949 premiere and six revivals — in 1975, 1984, 1999, 2012, 2022, and 2026 — Miller’s devastating drama has been up for a total of 32 Tonys. It has won 13 so far:

• 6 for the 1949 premiere
• 1 in 1984
• 4 in 1999
• 2 in 2012

That number could grow after June 7, as Mantello's critically acclaimed production is considered a major frontrunner in the play categories.

This season’s new production is vying for a Tony in nine categories: Best Revival, Best Leading Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Featured Actor, Best Direction, Best Original Score, and for scenic, lighting, and sound design.

Christopher Abbott (Best Featured Actor in a Play), Caroline Shaw (Best Original Score), and Chloe Lamford (Best Scenic Design of a Play) are all vying for a Tony for the first time. Shaw’s nomination marks the first time the play has ever been up for Best Original Score.

Current Tony nominee — and three-time past winner — Nathan Lane joins an exclusive fraternity of Broadway Willy Lomans. But although the role is among the most famous in the American theatre canon, it hasn't always spelled awards recognition.

In 1949, Lee J. Cobb was famously not nominated for the role, nor was Dustin Hoffman in 1984. George C. Scott (1975), Philip Seymour Hoffman (2012), and Wendell Pierce (2023) were all nominated but didn't win. Only Brian Dennehy won in 1999 — but Lane could change that.

Laurie Metcalf, likewise, joins a special sorority of Broadway Linda Lomans. In 1999, Elizabeth Franz became the first actress nominated for a Tony for playing Willy Loman’s long-suffering wife, and she won. In 2012, Linda Emond (currently on Broadway in Becky Shaw) was nominated for the role but didn’t win.

Metcalf has already won the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance — could a Tony be next?

Christopher Abbott is in the featured-actor race for playing Willy and Linda’s rudderless elder son, Biff. In 1949, Arthur Kennedy won a Tony for originating the role. In 1999, Kevin Anderson was nominated but didn’t win, and the same was true in 2012 for Andrew Garfield. Neither John Malkovich (1984) nor Khris Davis (2022) were nominated for their performances, but they're still great talents.

Despite being played by talented actors over the years — Cameron Mitchell (1949), Harvey Keitel (1975), Stephen Lang (1984), Ted Koch (1999), Finn Wittrock (2012), McKinley Belcher III (2022), and Ben Ahlers (2026) — the role of the younger Loman son, Happy, never earned any of them a Tony nomination.

Joe Mantello is up for directing the 2026 Salesman, which goes deep inside the mind of Willy Loman. He already has Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Awards under his belt for his work, making him a Tony frontrunner.

He'd be continuing a streak: All the past Broadway directors who were nominated for Salesman have won. In 1949, Elia Kazan won for staging the Broadway premiere, followed by Robert Falls in 1999 and Mike Nichols in 2012.

George C. Scott (1975), Michael Rudman (1984), and Miranda Cromwell (2022) were not nominated.

The 1975 revival earned one nomination, for Best Leading Actor (George C. Scott, who also directed), and the 2022 revival was up for Best Leading Actor (Wendell Pierce) and Best Lighting Design. However, neither production won a Tony.

Some categories have changed since the Tony Awards began in 1947. In 1949, the play was nominated for six Tonys and won all of them: Best Play, Best Featured Actor (Arthur Kennedy), Best Scenic Design, Best Producer, Best Author, and Best Director. Talk about a great first impression for a now-certified classic.

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Photo credit: Death of a Salesman on Broadway. (Photos by Emilio Madrid)