10 Individuals Who Suprisingly Never Won An Oscar | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Individuals Who Suprisingly Never Won An Oscar

A list of ten men who should have won at least one Academy Award

249
10 Individuals Who Suprisingly Never Won An Oscar
HollywoodGlee

In honor of the upcoming 89th Annual Academy Awards on February 26, it is time to look back at ten notable individuals who, surprisingly, have never won an Oscar in a competitive category, despite their incredible and impactful work. Please note that this does not include honorary and special achievement awards.

1. Robert Downey Jr.


Many know Downey Jr. today for his role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in a multitude of Marvel Comics adapted films. Other feats in his career included one season as a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" during the 1980s, a member of the 80s "Rat Pack" in films such as "Weird Science", and portraying Sherlock Holmes in "Sherlock Holmes" and "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows". His two Academy Award nominations were for portraying Charlie Chaplin in director Richard Attenborough's "Chaplin", and for playing "the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude" in "Tropic Thunder".

2. Albert Finney


Albert Finney is not exactly the first name that comes to mind when thinking of classic British film stars, but the five-time Oscar nominated actor provides many solid performances to his repertoire. Outside of his Academy Award nominations, he co-starred with Audrey Hepburn in "Two for the Road", portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the musical "Scrooge", was Daddy Warbucks in "Annie", had roles in several Tim Burton films including "Big Fish" and "Corpse Bride", as well as a more recent role in the James Bond film "Skyfall". His nominated roles included portraying Agatha Christie's Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot in "The Murder on the Orient Express", the title role in "Tom Jones", and Erin Brockovich's lawyer in "Erin Brockovich".

3. Johnny Depp


Johnny Depp is the modern definition of a successful character actor. It's hard to imagine that he has only been nominated three times for an Academy Award. Mostly known for his collaborations with Tim Burton in "Edward Scissorhands", "Ed Wood", "Sleepy Hollow", and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (to name a few); Depp has an uncanny ability to portray a particular character so effectively that you forget it's Johnny Depp. His only Oscar nominated roles are those of Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie in "Finding Neverland", and the title character in Tim Burton's adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street".

4. Alfred Hitchcock


Yes, it's true. The master of suspense never won an Oscar in a competitive category during his illustrious film making career. The instantly recognizable director brought forth cinematic masterpieces such as "Rear Window", "Vertigo", "North by Northwest", "Psycho", and "The Birds". Despite being nominated for five Academy Awards, he lost each time to other directors including John Ford and Billy Wilder (twice to Wilder, in fact).

5. Peter O'Toole


The outstanding actor that was Peter O'Toole was nominated eight times for Best Actor in a Leading Role, but could never win the award. His nominations included his performances in "Lawrence of Arabia", "Becket", "The Lion in Winter", and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips". His losses were to other great actors such as Gregory Peck, Rex Harrison, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, and Ben Kingsley. He was presented with an honorary award in 2003.

6. Richard Burton


Richard Burton was considered as one of greatest British actors of all-time. Best known for his on-screen and off-screen relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, Burton relished in roles as Mark Antony in "Cleopatra", Thomas Becket in "Becket", George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", and Martin Dysart in "Equus". Burton unfortunately died at the age of 58, mainly due to his long struggle with alcoholism.

7. Ian McKellen


Wait. The great actor that is Sir Ian McKellen never won an Academy Award? Unfortunately, it's true. He has only been nominated twice for his roles as film director James Whale in "Gods and Monsters" and Gandalf the Grey in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", but his career includes a multitude of notable films. Apart from the "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, McKellen is also known for his work as Magneto in the "X-Men" films, the title role in the film adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Richard III", and recently as Sherlock Holmes in "Mr. Holmes". He will portray Cogsworth in the upcoming live-action adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast".

8. Cary Grant


As one of the most famous leading men during the golden age of Hollywood, Cary Grant came to fame for his roles in "Bringing Up Baby", "The Philadelphia Story", and numerous Alfred Hitchcock films such as "Notorious", "To Catch a Thief", and "North by Northwest". Oddly enough, the British-American actor never won an Academy Award, yet was nominated only twice for his roles in "Penny Serenade" and "None but the Lonely Heart".

9. Peter Sellers


Peter Sellers never played a role that was himself. He always played a role that involved using numerous accents and physical comedy: from the incompetent French Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the "Pink Panther" films, to the insane German scientist Dr. Strangelove in "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". Twice nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Dr. Strangelove" and "Being There", he lost both times to Rex Harrison for "My Fair Lady" and to Dustin Hoffman for "Kramer vs. Kramer". His dramatic role in "Being There"was among his final film roles before his death in 1980.

10. Robert Mitchum

Mitchum was known for playing "tough guy" roles in a wide array of genres from war films to drama. His best known roles include Max Cady in "Cape Fear", Brigadier General Norman Cota in "The Longest Day", Admiral William F. Halsey in "Midway", and Captain Victor "Pug" Henry in the epic mini-series "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance". He was only nominated once for an Oscar for his supporting role in "Story of G.I. Joe".

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190196
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14884
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457855
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26616
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments