What is the purpose of 'to be' in this sentence and is it grammatically incorrect if it is omitted?
There is a familiar pattern: the first [noun] to [verb phrase]. The verb phrase could be run in the Boston Marathon or it could be be nominated for an Oscar. You can indeed omit to be without changing the meaning, but then the phrase no longer fits the pattern, and for that reason I think the sentence takes on a more literary register.