2004 Young Artist Awards acting Winners

Author: Nicholas Moreau
Published on: May 24, 2004

A quarter of a century in existance, the Young Artist Awards have come a long way.

As a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whom produce the Golden Globes, Maureen Dragone realized how often worth child actors were snubbed from recognition. Despite great performances, Ricky Schroder for "The Champ" and Justin Henry for "Kramer vs. Kramer" stood little to no chance at winning, being nominated in the categories of their adult counterparts.

While it's an honour just to be nominated, Dragone saw the need for a seperate awards show. One of the resultant Young Actors Awards benefits, is that of promoting wholesome family entertainment by awarding films and television shows who dedicate themselves to that goal.

And so here are the Silver Anniversary Young Artist Awards winners.
 

Movies For this section's nominees, see 2004 Young Actor Awards nominations, movies Best Family Feature Film - Comedy or Musical - School of Rock (Paramount Pictures) Best Family Feature Film - Drama - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (New Line Cinema) and Peter Pan (Universal Pictures) Best Family Feature Film - Animation - Finding Nemo (Walt Disney/Pixar Animation) Best Performance in a Feature Film Leading Young Actor - Jeremy Sumpter, Peter Pan (Universal Pictures) Leading Young Actress - Jenna Boyd, The Missing (Revolution Studios) Supporting Young Actor - Scott Terra, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (Paramount Pictures) Supporting Young Actress - Aree Davis, The Haunted Mansion (Walt Disney Pictures) Young Actor Age Ten or Younger - Forrest Landis, Cheaper by the Dozen (20th Century Fox) Young Actress Age Ten or Younger - Emma Bolger, In America (He**'s Kitchen Films) Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film - Cheaper by the Dozen, Hillary Duff, Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman, Forrest Landis, Steven Anthony Lawrence, Liliana Mumy, Kevin Schmidt, Jacob Smith, Alyson Stoner, Blake Woodruff, Morgan York Best Performance in a Short Film Caitlin E. J. Meyer, A Pioneer Miracle (Independent) International Feature Film Best International Feature Film - Whale Rider, New Zealand Best Family Foreign Film - Shanty Town Blues, Russia Best International Performance by a Young Actress - Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider, New Zealand Best International Performance by a Young Actor - Max Pirkis, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, England	While multiple actors and actresses were nominated twice, Forrest Landis is this year's only double winner. He won as the Best Young Actor, Age Ten or Younger and as part of the Cheaper by the Dozen Best Young Ensemble. Notable Knock-Out: Dakota Fanning This up-and-coming screen legend was nominated for her role in Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, instead of her much stronger role in Uptown Girls; because of this, she ended up loosing Leading Young Actress. Keisha Castle-Hughes of Whale Rider, winner of Best International Performance by a Young Actress was an easy pick for that title; she was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars last February.
Telefilms Best Family Television Movie or Special - The Maldonado Miracle (Showtime) Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special Leading Young Actor - Logan Lerman, A Painted House (Hallmark Hall of Fame) and Calun Worthy, National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Family Reunion (FOX) Leading Young Actress - Katie Boland, Salem Witch Trials (CBS) Supporting Young Actor - Jamie Johnston, More Than Meets the Eye: The Joan Brock Story (Lifetime) Supporting Young Actress - Emmy Clark, My House in Umbria (HBO)	Emmy and YAA disagree: While the YAA for Best Family Television Movie or Special went to Showtime's The Maldonado Miracle, while the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children/Youth/Family Special went to Showcase's The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie. Either way you look at it, specials on stations named Show... do well.
Television Series For this section's nominees, see 2004 Young Actor Awards nominations, television Best Family Television Series, Comedy or Drama - Degrassi: The Next Generation (CTV) Best Performance in a TV Series, Comedy or Drama Leading Young Actor - Martin Spanjers, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (ABC) Leading Young Actress - Masiela Lusha, The George Lopez Show (ABC) Supporting Young Actor - Michael Welch, Joan of Arcadia (CBS) Supporting Young Actress - Mackenzie Rosman, Seventh Heaven (WB) Young Actor Ages Ten or Younger - Angus T. Jones, Two and a Half Men (CBS) Young Actress Ages Ten or Younger - Dee Dee Davis, The Bernie Mac Show (FOX) Guest Starring Young Actor - Thomas Dekker, Boston Public (FOX)  Guest Starring Young Actress - Danielelle Panabaker, The Guardian (CBS) Recurring Young Actor - Oliver Davis, E.R. (NBC) Recurring Young Actress - Jillian Clare, Days of Our Lives (NBC) Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role Young Actor - Alexander Gould, Finding Nemo (Walt Disney/Pixar Animation) Young Actress - Erica Beck, Finding Nemo (Walt Disney/Pixar Animation) Most Popular Mom & Dad in a Television Series - Julie Kavner & Dan Castellaneta, The Simpsons (FOX) Best Young Adult Performer in a Teenage Role - Josh Keaton, Even Stevens (The Even Stevens Movie) (Disney Channel) Best Performance in a Commercial - Mackenzie Hannigan, Smart & Final	Go Canada! While many Canadian produced TV shows were nominated (including NBC-aired Blake Hosley High), only one award was handed out to the Canucks, and it was the highest honour possible. Degrassi: The Next Generation won Best Family Television Series, Comedy or Drama. Masiela Lusha, who won television's Leading Young Actress YAA award was also nominated in the voice over category, for her role in Clifford's Puppy Days. Thomas Dekker (winner of Guest Starring Young Actor) was Nick Szalinski in the late 90s television show "Disney's Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". You likely don't recognize the winners of Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role by name, such is to be expected. Alexander Gould is Nemo of Finding Nemo himself, and Erica Beck was in the small role of the squid in Nemo's class who "inks".
Special Awards Outstanding Young Rock Musician - Nick Sterling, The Nick Sterling Band, Arizona Michael Landon Award for Contribution to Youth - Casey Morris, Guitars for Life Jackie Coogan Award for Contribution to Youth - Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings movie trilogy Young Artists Awards Scholarship Recipient - Jose Francisco Romas Phifer Social Relations of Knowledge Institute Award - Bill Nye the Science Guy	An early incarnation of the Outstanding Rock Musician Award was the Best Juvenile Musical Recording Artist awards, both Male and Female. The first ever male winner was a young Michael Jackson, who won at the 1978-1979 ceremonies for his album Off the Wall, from Epic. Little would anyone guess that a quarter of a century later, kids would be still a part of his life.*

* DISCLAIMER: This is meant strictly as a joke, not to defame Mr. Jackson in any way. Apologies if this colour comment caused any grief for readers of the column.