The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has handed out Oscars since 1929, polishing Hollywood egos one gold statue at a time. Still, the process misses people. Big ones. Performers with careers stretching 30 or 40 years, box office hits, critical praise, the whole deal, yet no win. You’ve seen them cry on screen, carry bad movies, save good ones. So how does that happen? This is about ten actors who did everything right and still watched someone else give the speech.
10. James Dean
With just three major films to his name, James Dean burned too bright and way too fast for Hollywood. His sudden passing turned him into the only actor to receive two posthumous nominations, but the Oscar eluded him in both cases.
9. Edward G. Robinson
Robinson’s unmistakable on-screen persona essentially created the modern ideal of the Hollywood Golden Age mobster. Despite co-starring in The Ten Commandments, Robinson never received an Oscar nomination.
8. Gene Wilder
Wilder created Willy Wonka from the ground up using his unique blend of comedic genius and emotional delivery. He came pretty close to the statuette when nominated for 1967’s The Producers – his only nomination as an actor.
7. Glenn Ford
Though his career spanned 50 years, most modern fans might remember him for his role as Jonathan Kent in 1978’s Superman. Neither he nor Christopher Reeve received Oscar nominations for their work in the iconic superhero film.
6. Alan Rickman
It takes some genuine acting skills to create villains as charming as the ones Alan Rickman played. Better known as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series, Rickman’s cold and menacing presence made him an idol for silver screen bad guys.
5. Errol Flynn
When the Academy created the Oscars, nothing moved ticket sales like swashbuckling films, and you couldn’t make a successful swashbuckling film without Errol Flynn. Despite his popularity, the Academy never nominated the star of Captain Blood for the Best Actor award.
4. Richard Burton
Nominated seven times, Richard Burton’s legendary work and his tumultuous relationship with Elizabeth Taylor made countless headlines. Burton’s lavish lifestyle wasn’t always as pristine as the Academy would like, leading modern critics to believe that’s the reason why he never won the coveted award.
3. Donald Sutherland
Despite starring in some of the most touching and daring dramas of his time, Sutherland was never nominated for an Oscar. To date, critics are baffled, wondering how he wasn’t nominated for Ordinary People.
2. Steve McQueen
The uncontested “King of Cool” never got much love from the Academy, despite his undeniable popularity and box office appeal. He received his only nomination for his role in 1966’s The Sand Pebbles.
1. Peter O’Toole
Eight nominations, not a single win. O’Toole might have redefined Hollywood with Lawrence of Arabia, but the Academy never granted him the Oscar. He did, however, receive an Honorary Award in 2003, a way for the Academy to make amends with one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends.
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