Every year aroundOscartime it seems like we always end up falling into the same debate: Who deserves to win best (INSERT CATEGORY) here. There are many actors, directors, writers and others who have beennominatedbut have never taken home the gold statuette. Now, the reality is that films take a long time for directors to get made and writers take a long time to get a script right. But actors have a better set of odds, because they can make multiple films in any given year.
This isn’t to say that acting is easier than any of the aforementioned jobs. It just means that, if theAcademylikes an actor, and they make a lot of films, their chances to gain Oscar gold are that much better. A great case in point is how many times they has been nominated? 19. How many Oscars has she taken home? 3. Those are VERY respectable numbers.
What about those actors that are really great, they get nominated, but they never win? How can this be possible? They’ve been nominated numerous times and they’ve never taken home that coveted trophy. Making this even more astounding is the fact that some of these actors who have never won Oscars have made billions for the various studios at the box office!
Art is truly subjective. What some people think is brilliant others decry is tripe. What others think is garbage, others simply see as unpolished jewels. What seems to be a constant thread, is that there are actors who should own an Oscar. Whether it is for one great performance, a multitude of performances, or simply being someone we love to see on the silver screen…Get them that damn little golden guy!
What follows is a list that is many things, but hardly subjective. As you read it, we expect you to be astounded by the fact that this thespian, this master of the acting craft, has never taken home what many others before them have. You might be shocked, surprised, dismayed, even afraid. So as the big night looms before us, sit back and enjoy our list of “15 Actors You Wouldn’t Believe Have Never Won An Oscar”.
151Leonardo DiCaprio- Nominations: 5
Yup…, I can already hear the the WTF’s being typed on your keyboard or smartphone. The man has been nominated four previous times, and has never won. Maybe this fifth time will be the charm! Most thought he’d an Award for the character he played inWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Wrong. It just seems like he should’ve, though. Doesn’t it. Going to the alter for his 5th time this February, many believe this is the year that DiCaprio takes home the gold for his grueling performance inThe Revenant.
142Bill Murray- Nominations: 1
Okay, the fact thatBill Murrayis mainly known as a funny man probably doesn’t help him with the dinosaurs in the Academy. In recent years, Murray’s comedic persona has become more sublime and he’s actually been in contention more. The reality is that Murray hasn’t just been good in a lot of movies, he’s been great in a lot them as well. So it stands to reason that he should win an Oscar sometime! His one nomination came inLost In Translation. He lost out toSean PenninMystic River.
133Tom Cruise- Nominations: 3
Tom Cruisehas only been nominated for an Oscar 3 times, and failed to win every single time. Why is this surprising? Why does it seem like he should have won already? Well, at one time, before he was jumping on couches in front of Oprah,Tom Cruisewas the biggest actor in the world. Whether this hurt him with the Academy, who can say. What we can say is that he is going to win one day…It just might take 20 more years. And it will take better movies thanJerry Maguire,Magnoliaand Born on the 4th of July. Looking at the actor’s upcoming slate, which includes popcorn blockbuster fluff such asTop Gun 2,The Mummy,Jack Reacher: Never Go BackandMission: Impossible 6, his next chances at achieving Academy Gold are a long ways off in the future.
124Glenn Close- Nominations: 6
WTF? How in the world do you get nominated for something 6 times and never win it? That, our friends, is a question we should probably askGlenn Close. She was a fixture in the 1980s. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between her and Meryl Streep. Well, there was one difference, Streep has won an Oscar. But not poorGlenn Close. She kept getting nominated all throughout the 80s, for such varied fare as The World According to Garp, The Big Chill,The Natural,Fatal Attractionand Dangerous Liaisons. She couldn’t catch a nomination in the 90s or 2000s. But she did receive her 6th nomination in 2011 for playing a man inAlbert Nobbs. She’s had better luck on TV, winning 2 Emmys for her lead role onDamages.
115Johnny Depp- Nominations: 3
Alright, say what you will aboutJohnny Depp, but when he cares about a role he makes it interesting. This is all the more reason why we’re angry that he wasn’t even nominated for his role as Whitey Bulger inBlack Mass. Shouldn’t Depp have won for something by now? Or, at least been nominated more? Perhaps one of the most shocking things about his past nominations is the roles the Academy has chosen to acknowledge. Yes, he was nominated for the big Disney blockbusterPirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearlin his iconic role as Jack Sparrow. Sure, Jack has become one of the most recognizable characters around the world, but hardly what the Academy usually goes for. He was also nominated for his role asSweeney Todd, and another over the top, outlandish performance that doesn’t usually snag the interest of the voting committee.
106John Travolta- Nominations: 2
John Travoltais such a charismatic, electrifying actor that it sure is surprising he has never won an Oscar. He’s only been nominated for Saturday Night Fever andPulp Fiction, but those two movies defined two very different cinematic decades. And are remembered as two of the best movies ever made. With such a name and star presence, it seems like he would’ve been nominated (and won) for something by now, right? Recently, he’s taken on some questionable B movie fare, so an Oscar might be a long way off. Perhaps he’ll nab an Emmy for his astonishing work as Robert Shapiro inThe People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, which is currently airing on FX. Its some of the best work he’s done in his career.
97Harrison Ford- Nominations: 1
How in the world hasHarrison Fordonly been nominated for oneAcademy Award? And it was for the 1985 movie Witness from 1985? Sure, we didn’t think he’d get nominated for his final turn as Han Solo inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. But hello Academy, how about Working Girl, Regarding Henry, The Mosquito Coast,The Fugitive,42??? The man doesn’t have a lot of time left on his plate. Hopefully he at least gets a lifetime achievement award.
88Amy Adams- Nominations: 5
Amy Adamshas won right? It seems like she’s nominated every year, isn’t she? Okay,Amy Adamshas only been nominated 5 times. However, for an actress that is 41 years old, that is Lifetime. I swear… she has won before, right?!??!?!?!?! Nope. Not even for some high profile dramas that wo big in other categories. The woman nabbed her first nomination in 2006 for Junebug. She followed that up with nominations forDoubt,The Fighter,The Master, andAmerican Hustle. Her next movie isBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, so perhaps she’ll have to hold out a little bit longer.
79Gary Oldman- Nominations: 1
This can’t be true, can it? On top of that, he only has one nomination under his belt? Blasphemous! With a resume that reads like a film history class (Sid and Nancy, the 3 Christopher Nolan Batman films, JFK, True Romance, etc…), it seems likeGary Oldman, too, has already won thegold. Maybe it’s because he can be kind of confrontational? Perhaps its because he doesn’t exactly play the Hollywood game? Whatever the case, his lack of an Oscar statue might be the gravest transgression on this list.
610Joaquin Phoenix- Nominations: 3
Here’s another one for the unbelievable pile.Joaquin Phoenixis seen as aHollywood outsider, and its doubtful that he’d even show up to accept an award should he win. So perhaps that’s why the academy is hesitant to bestow this great gift upon him. Though, it hasn’t been without a lack for trying. The very serious actor is an accomplished resume, and he’s been recognized for his work three times. All deservedly so.Gladiator,Walk the LineandThe Masterall earned him a nomination. But his snub for Her most likely was a signal from the voting committee that they were done with his wily ways. He’s still young, he’s got time. It will happen. Maybe.
