Entertainment

The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)  

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Originally by Ranker Community
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List Rules Vote up the male actors who have never been awarded the Oscar for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor.

There are many actors who haven't won an Oscar. For 95 percent of the acting population, there is probably a good reason they haven't taken home one of film's most prestigious honors. Only two actors per year can win either the Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor Oscars, leaving eight other nominees with nothing. And all of the other actors in the biz out in the cold.

But does the Academy always get it right? There are plenty of actors who haven't won an Oscar despite the fact that they’ve turned in amazing performances. Whether it’s due to stellar competition, bad luck, or an out-and-out snub, some artists have never gotten the recognition they deserve.

Johnny Depp, Edward Norton, and Brad Pitt are all big draws at the box office who haven't received the same respect of the Academy that they have from audiences. While they've all been nominated for Oscars, they've never taken home the big prize. Other top actors without Oscars include Liam Neeson, Robert Downey, Jr.. Matt Damon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Michael Fassbender. This list of Hollywood celebrities who have no Academy Awards also includes black actors, like Will Smith, and famous classic stars, like Peter O'Toole and Cary Grant. How these people never won an Oscar will always be a mystery! 

There are a surprising number of big name actors who haven't won an Oscar. It's up to you to determine which of these men is the greatest.

list ordered by
1
Gary Oldman is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
voting closed at #1 age 61

WON for Darkest Hour; Nominated for: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
2
Edward Norton is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 50

Nominated for: Primal Fear, American History X, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
3
Johnny Depp is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 56

Nominated for: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
4
Ian McKellen is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 80

Nominated for: Gods and Monsters, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5
Robert Downey Jr. is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 54

Nominated for: Chaplin, Tropic Thunder
6
Alan Rickman is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 73

Was never nominated for an Academy Award. 
7
Clint Eastwood is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 89

Nominated for: Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby
8
Ralph Fiennes is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 57

Nominated for: Schindler's List, The English Patient
9
Peter O'Toole is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
Dec. at 81 (1932-2013)

Nominated for: Lawrence of Arabia, Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The Ruling Class, The Stunt Man, My Favorite Year, Venus
10
Harrison Ford is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 77

Nominated for: Witness
11
Liam Neeson is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 67

Nominated for: Schindler's List
12
Brad Pitt is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 56

Nominated for: 12 Monkeys, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Moneyball
13
Samuel L. Jackson is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 71

Nominated for: Pulp Fiction
14
Matt Damon is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 49

Nominated for: Good Will Hunting, Invictus, The Martian
15
Cary Grant is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
Dec. at 82 (1904-1986)

Nominated for: Penny Serenade, None But the Lonely Heart
16
Bill Murray is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 69

Nominated for: Lost in Translation
17
Joaquin Phoenix is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 45

Nominated for: Gladiator, Walk the Line, The Master
18
Ed Harris is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 69

Nominated for: Apollo 13, The Truman Show, Pollock, The Hours
19
Charlie Chaplin is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
ADrago added Dec. at 88 (1889-1977)

Nominated for: The Great Dictator
20
Hugh Jackman is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
wiabux added age 51

Nominated for: Les Misérables
21
Willem Dafoe is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 64

Nominated for: Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire, The Florida Project
22
Gene Wilder is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 86

Nominated for: The Producers
23
Michael Fassbender is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 42

Nominated for: 12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs
24
Steve Buscemi is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 62

Was never nominated for an Academy Award
25
Donald Sutherland is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
age 84

Was never nominated for an Academy Award