John Ford holds the record for the most Best Director Oscars, with four wins.
Ford won for *The Informer* (1935), *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940), *How Green Was My Valley* (1941), and *The Quiet Man* (1952). His victories span nearly two decades and reflect his command of both literary adaptations and vividly regional stories.
The record is sometimes confused with the number of nominations. William Wyler earned more directing nominations, while Frank Capra and several others won three times. Ford’s four wins remain unmatched in the directing category.
Ford was also a major figure in Western cinema, directing films such as *Stagecoach*, *My Darling Clementine*, and *The Searchers*. His work helped define the visual language of the American Western.