How Many Actors Have Been Nominated for the Academy Awards More Than Once But Have Never Won?

In the grand narrative of Hollywood, there are countless actors whose careers have been filled with Oscar nominations but no wins. This article delves into the stories of some of these unsung heroes.

The Data Documentation

Below is a complete list of actors who have been nominated for the Academy Awards more than once but have never won:

3 Nominations

Angela Lansbury Casey Mulligan Charles Bickford Clifford Webb Debra Winger Diane Ladd Edith Evans Edward Norton Eleanor Parker Frank Morgan Gloria Swanson Greta Garbo James Mason Joan Allen Johnny Depp Kirk Douglas Laura Linney Marcello Mastroianni Matthew Damon Michele Pfeiffer Natalie Wood Nick Nolte Piper Laurie Ryan Gosling Sigourney Weaver Tom Cruise Viggo Mortensen William Powell Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson

4 Nominations

Agnese Moorehead Barbara Stanwyck Charles Boyer Ed Harris Jan Alexander Mark Ruffalo Marsha Mason Mickey Rooney Montgomery Clift Rosalind Russell Saoirse Ronan Warren Beatty Willem Dafoe

5 Nominations

Albert Finney Annette Bening Arthur Kennedy Bradley Cooper Irene Dunne Michelle Williams

6 Nominations

Amy Adams Thelma Ritter

7 Nominations

Richard Burton

8 Nominations

Glenn Close Peter O'Toole

Famous Cases

Let's delve into some interesting cases of actors who have been nominated numerous times but have yet to win:

Glenn Close

Glenn Close has been nominated for eight Oscars but has never won, most recently for Best Supporting Actress for Hillbilly Elegy at the 2021 Oscars.

Recent Contenders

Jessica Chastain's recent nomination for Best Actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye is her third time being an Oscar contender — she was previously nominated for The Help and Zero Dark Thirty.

Consistent Performers

Amy Adams has been nominated for six Oscars throughout her career without ever winning — her first nomination was for her role in the 2006 movie Junebug.

Ageless Performances

Willem Dafoe was first nominated in 1986 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Platoon. He has totaled four Oscar nominations throughout his career, most recently for At Eternity's Gate.

Young Talent

Saoirse Ronan, at just 27 years old, has already been nominated for four Oscars — including Best Supporting Actress for her role in Atonement when she was just 13. She continues to break records for her age in the industry.

Other Notable Mentions

Bradley Cooper has been nominated for an Oscar nine times in a variety of categories from Best Adapted Screenplay to Best Actor. He was recently nominated for Best Picture for his work as a producer on Nightmare Alley.

Will Smith has been nominated for an Oscar four times in total. He is in the running for two this year for King Richard: Best Picture for his work as a producer and Best Actor.

Michele Williams has received four Oscar nominations throughout her career — her most recent was in 2016 for Best Supporting Actress for Manchester by the Sea, where the award went to Viola Davis that year for her role in Fences.

Ian McKellen has surprisingly never won an Oscar but has been nominated twice for his roles in Gods and Monsters and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

A Final Note

The list of actors who have been nominated for the Academy Awards without ever winning is vast and varied. These individuals continue to distinguish themselves in their craft and story-telling, even as they face the long road without an Oscar win.