Who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing Kris Kringle in the 1947 film 'Miracle on 34th Street'?

Edmund John Kellaway (1877-1959), known professionally as Edmund Gwenn, was an English film, television, and stage actor best remembered for his role as Kris Kringle (Santa Claus) in the 1947 version of 'Miracle on 34th Street'. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award for his performance.

'Miracle on 34th Street' won three Academy Awards in total, with the other two going to Valentine Davies for Best Original Story and George Seaton for Best Screenplay. The film tells the story of an old man called Kris Kringle who is hired to play the role of Santa Claus at a Macy department store in Manhattan. He then reveals to customers and employees that he really is Santa Claus, which leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity.

Edmund Gwenn appeared in over eighty films, including 'Friday the Thirteenth' (1933), 'Pride and Prejudice' (1940), 'Lassie Come Home' (1943), 'Of Human Bondage' (1946), 'It's a Dog's Life' (1955) and Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Trouble with Harry' (1955). Gwenn received a second Oscar nomination for his role in 'Mister 880' (1950).