What are the first names of the Oscar-winning Coen brothers?

Joel Coen (born November 29, 1954) and Ethan Coen (born September 21, 1957), collectively referred to as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers. Joel and Ethan Coen were born and raised in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Their mother, Rena (née Neumann), was an art historian at St. Cloud State University, and their father, Edward Coen, was an economist at the University of Minnesota. Their family is Jewish.

Their films span many genres and styles, which they frequently subvert or parody. Their most acclaimed works include "Miller's Crossing" (1990), "Fargo" (1996), The Big Lebowski" (1998), "No Country for Old Men" (2007), "True Grit" (2010) and "Inside Llewyn Davis" (2013).

The brothers write, direct and produce their films jointly, although until "The Ladykillers" (2004) Joel received sole credit for directing and Ethan for producing. They often alternate top billing for their screenplays while sharing editing credits under the alias Roderick Jaynes. They have been nominated for thirteen Academy Awards together, and individually for one award each, winning Best Original Screenplay for "Fargo" and Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for "No Country for Old Men". The duo also won the Palme d'Or (the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.) for "Barton Fink" (1991).