Throughout the years, many talented actors have been snubbed for a win at the Academy Awards. But arguably even more performers in cinematic history have missed out on nominations entirely. This list aims to shine light on the greatest thespians from Hollywood and beyond that have never been nominated for an Academy Award.
These are among the most famous actors to ever live, and most of them boast awards from other associations like the Golden Globes. Most names on the list are bound to ring a bell, while others may appear more unfamiliar. All that said, these are the 20 greatest actors who have never been nominated for an Oscar, ranked.
20 Bruce Willis
Widely known as John McClain in the Die Hard franchise, Bruce Willis has showcased great range outside his penchant for action. He's also a great comedic performer — just look at titles such as The Last Boy Scout (1991) and The Whole Nine Yards (2000). What's more, he has several acclaimed efforts under his belt, yet he's never been nominated for an Oscar.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
From Butch Coolidge in Pulp Fiction (1994) to John Hartigan in Sin City (2005), several of his performances have garnered reverence from critics. There's also science-fiction outings like Twelve Monkeys (1995), and his collaborations with M. Night Shyamalan: The Sixth Sense (1999) and Unbreakable (2000), for example. The list of well-known films featuring Bruce Willis is frankly staggering, and his performances are always impressive.
19 Pam Grier
An American actress, Pam Grier made a name for herself by starring in a series of Blaxploitation and women-in-prison films throughout the 1970s. It wasn't for a couple of more decades before she was put on the map of critical acclaim. But once she made it into the realm of respected Hollywood performers, Grier found herself with nominations from multiple major associations, like the Golden Globes.
Why She Deserves an Oscar
Though never viewed as much of a dramatic actor in her early years, a starring role in Jackie Brown (1997) opened the eyes of many fans to Grier and her abilities. Directed by Quentin Tarantino from his own original script, Jackie Brown features Grier in the titular role. She received widespread acclaim for her efforts, and frankly, that movie by itself justifies her placement on the list.
18 Shia LaBeouf
Although he's best known for his Disney Channel series Even Stevens, or even for his role in the Transformers film franchise, Shia LaBeouf has been giving impressive Hollywood performances for decades. He first displayed a penchant for poignance in Disturbia (2007), a thriller by D.J. Caruso. And in the following decade, LaBeouf starred in a series of critical darlings that make him eligible for the list.
Why He Makes the List
With American Honey (2016), Borg vs McEnroe (2017), Honey Boy (2019), and The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), this actor offered unique insight into four disparate personalities. Those films truly showcase his range. And while LaBeouf is still young, with plenty of years left to claim his Academy Award, he's currently one of the greatest that has yet to do so.
17 Emile Hirsch
To be frank, Emile Hirsch should have been nominated for Best Actor at the 80th Academy Awards. He put forth an unforgettable effort as Chris McCandless in Sean Penn's biographical drama Into the Wild (2007). For those unfamiliar, McCandless gained recognition for hiking across North America and into the Alaskan wilderness. From the film's first frame, Hirsch encompasses his personality to absolute perfection.
More Reasons He Deserves an Oscar
In the following year, he worked again with Penn in Milk. Both Penn and Josh Brolin were recognized by the Academy for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Hirsch easily could've been nominated in the latter category. The same can be said for his efforts in Killer Joe (2011). But despite all these amazing performances, he's consistently come up short at the Academy Awards. At some point, Hirsch deserves recognition.
16 Kurt Russell
For many fans, Kurt Russell's is defined by his John Carpenter collaborations. Escape From New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986) — these movies are among the most iconic of the '80s, and Russell plays the lead in each. And while he shouldn't have been nominated for any of those performances, he's still among the best actors never recognized by the Academy.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
While his John Carpenter collaborations typically fell into the science fiction subgenre, Russell has also made great waves in the realm of westerns. From Tombstone (1993) to Bone Tomahawk (2015), his Wild West projects showcase the extent of his range. There's also The Hateful Eight (2015), by Quentin Tarantino. With others like Death Proof (2007) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), his works with that director alone warrant a spot on the list.
15 John Turturro
Although he has a penchant for comedy, John Turturro has showcased endless versatility throughout his underrated career. Firstly, his work in Miller's Crossing (1990) should have been recognized with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. But even if there's an argument for the alternative, that Coen Brothers stint only marks the beginning of Turturro's impressive run.
More Reasons He Deserves an Oscar
Though he should have by no means beaten Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), there's still an argument that Turturro should have been nominated for Barton Fink (1991). Alas, he was snubbed once again. Since, he's provided acclaimed efforts in well-made titles like Clockers (1995) and He Got Game (1998). And no matter the title, Turturro is always at the top of his game.
14 Ricardo Darín
Widely considered among the finest thespians his region's ever produced, Ricardo Darín has come up short at the Academy Awards on several surprising occasions. From his efforts in Nine Queens (2000) to those in Wild Tales (2014), this Argentine actor consistently hits home across the board of emotional resonance.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) and Prime Video's Argentina, 1985 (2022) are among the most respected films of their respective years, and Darín has starring roles in both. Critical acclaim came along the way. Even if you aren't familiar with his name, you can rest assured that Darín has earned his spot among the greats that haven't been recognized with an Oscar.
13 Kim Min-hee
The first film of true, acclaimed relevance to feature Kim Min-hee was Right Now, Wrong Then (2015). It introduced her to writer-director Hong Sang-soo, with whom she's been partners ever since. And after appearing in The Handmaiden (2016) by Park Chan-wook, this actress has completely dedicated herself to the filmography of her loved one.
Why She Deserves an Oscar
With eight collaborations in total, the works of Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo deserve far more recognition from an international perspective. Neither have ever been recognized by the Academy despite the impressive nature of their efforts, from On the Beach at Night Alone (2017) to The Novelist's Film (2022). But really, this South Korean actress should be known as one of the all-time greats.
12 Diego Luna
These days, Diego Luna is perhaps best-known for his role as Cassian Andor in Star Wars — at least, by American audiences. But for the whole 21st Century, Mexican film fans have recognized Luna as one of his generation's finest talents, and justifiably so. He's put in tremendous work on Spanish-language projects and Hollywood productions alike.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
Near the turn of the century, Luna co-starred in Y tu mamá También (2001), a road film by Alfonso Cuarón. That's one of the finest films of Mexican cinema as a whole, let alone of Luna's career. Later in the decade, the actor collaborated with Alfonso again, this time in a sports film directed by the latter's brother, Carlos. And in the same year as Rudo y Cursi (2008), he provided indelible efforts in the English-language drama Milk (2008). Each film holds up wonderfully today, and so do Luna's performances.
11 Gael García Bernal
Alongside Luna, with whom he grew up, Gael García Bernal is among the finest actors in modern Mexican cinema. He got his start by starring in Amores Perros (2000), written and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. And in the following year, he co-starred alongside Luna in another movie by one of the Three Amigos: Y tu mamá También, by Alfonso Cuarón.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
In back-to-back years, Bernal starred in two of the greatest films ever produced in Mexico. He then worked with a Spanish auteur named Pedro Almodóvar, with the film being Bad Education (2004). There's also The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), Babel (2006), and Rudo y Cursi. All high-quality titles, with Bernal performing brilliantly in each. He's long overdue for an Oscar nomination.
10 Song Kang-ho
In terms of international acclaim, Song Kang-ho was truly put on the map thanks to his work with Park Chan-wook. Near the turn of the century, Song appeared in two thrillers by the acclaimed director: Joint Security Area (2000), and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002). However, it's his collaboration with another famous filmmaker that makes him one of the greatest actors never nominated at the Oscars.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
He worked under the direction of Bong Joon-ho on four occasions, starting with Memories of Murder (2003). Next came The Host (2006), followed by Snowpiercer (2013). And for Parasite (2019), this South Korean actor could have picked up a nod for Best Actor. The award at the 92nd ceremony went to Joaquin Phoenix for Joker (2019), and justifiably so. However, Song could have been chosen over any of the other nominees. For that, he deserves a spot on the list.
9 Jeffrey Wright
From independent critical darlings to big-budget Hollywood blockbusters, Jeffrey Wright has run the gamut of popularity with regard to his filmography. For decades now, he's been appearing in well-known projects such as Casino Royale (2006) and Source Code (2011). And in terms of impressive performances, a few stand out that could have feasibly been nominated at the Academy Awards.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
Although the title itself wasn't particularly acclaimed, Wright's acting in Basquiat (1996) could have warranted a nomination for Best Actor. And for Syriana (2005) and The Ides of March (2011) — both directed by George Clooney — he could have even received recognition in the supporting category. Perhaps he will finally get a nomination for American Fiction (2023).
8 Maggie Cheung
At the Hong Kong Film Awards, Maggie Cheung holds more wins for Best Actress than anyone in the ceremony's history. But somehow, she's never been so much as nominated for an Academy Award. In the Mood for Love (2000) is one of the finest films of the century, let alone of its year, and Cheung could have very well been recognized for her co-leading efforts therein.
More Reasons She Deserves an Oscar
Before the aforementioned film by Wong Kar-wai, she collaborated with the filmmaker on three occasions: first on As Tears Go By (1988), next with Days of Being Wild (1990), and again on Ashes in Time (1994). She's one of the greatest collaborators of Kar-wai's, who's in turn among the finest Chinese directors to ever live. The same thing goes for Cheung with regard to acting.
7 Idris Elba
The most acclaimed role under the belt of Idris Elba is Stringer Bell in The Wire, an HBO series. In the realm of cinema, he's perhaps best known for his stints in superhero movies — from Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad (2021) to Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But frankly, there are several film performances worth noting that prove the prowess of the actor at hand.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
His supporting efforts in both American Gangster (2007) and Beasts of No Nation (2015) nearly stole the show from the films' respective leads. But despite these impressive performances from an actor with substantial name value, the Academy has never deemed Elba fit for a nomination. At the very least, he deserves recognition once before his filmography is concluded.
6 Tony Leung
Perhaps the most famous collaborator of Wong Kar-wai is Tony Leung, who provided leading efforts in the filmmaker's two most acclaimed projects: Chungking Express (1994) and In the Mood for Love. He also won Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for both Happy Together (1997) and 2046 (2004), with each of his performances in Kar-wai's projects being of the utmost quality.
More Reasons He Deserves an Oscar
Aside from his collaborations with Wong Kar-wai, more movies that showcase the prowess of Tony Leung include those directed by John Woo. A legendary filmmaker, Woo has cast this equally legendary actor in projects like Bullet in the Head (1990) and Hard Boiled (1992). When accounting for his Internal Affairs (2002) performance, Leung undoubtedly deserves his flowers with a placement on the list.
5 Mélanie Laurent
As Shoshanna Dreyfuss, French actress Mélanie Laurent nearly stole the show of Inglourious Basterds (2009) from underneath Christoph Waltz. Her talent was on full display from start to finish, with that Tarantino flick leading to a series of more English-language productions, like Enemy (2013) by Denis Villeneuve — another impressive performance.
More Reasons She Deserves an Oscar
Laurent co-wrote and directed The Mad Women's Ball (2021), a psychological thriller in which she also starred. And in that same year, she played Elizabeth Hanson in Oxygen (2021), a science fiction film. She absolutely shines in both. No matter the genre of the film or archetype of the character, Laurent approaches each role with poise and dedication that makes her one of the 21st Century's finest talents.
4 Maribel Verdú
As of late, Maribel Verdú is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Nora Allen in The Flash (2023). But really, this Spanish actress has been putting in far more impressive performances for essentially her entire career. She debuted at thirteen with a supporting role in Captain Sánchez's Crime (1985), and from there, she's offered staggering work in Spanish-language productions and beyond.
Why She Deserves an Oscar
After establishing a solid name for herself, Verdú starred in two of the greatest Mexican movies of the century: Y tu mamá También, and Pan's Labyrinth (2006). For the latter, she received an Ariel Award for Best Actress — the same can be said thanks to her efforts in Seven Billiard Tables (2007). And frankly, that's only scratching the surface of Maribel's high-quality titles.
3 Jim Carrey
Though mostly known for his comedic prowess, Jim Carrey has provided several poignant performances throughout his career. In back-to-back years, he starred in two critical darlings: The Truman Show (1998), and Man on the Moon (1999). For both performances, he walked away with a Best Actor win at the Golden Globes — for The Truman Show, he won in the "Motion Picture Drama" category, while the other win was "Motion Picture Musical or Comedy".
Why He Deserves an Oscar
Carrey continued proving his prowess in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), which co-stars Kate Winslet. Both leads were nominated at the Golden Globes for their efforts, while Winslet even picked up a nod at the Academy Awards. Not Carrey, though. He probably gave up at that point. What else does he need to do?
2 Steve Buscemi
From Jim Jarmusch and the Coen Brothers to Quentin Tarantino and Oren Movermen, several acclaimed filmmakers are known for frequently casting Steve Buscemi in their projects. His breakthrough performance came with Reservoir Dogs (1992), written and directed by Tarantino. And a few years thereafter, Buscemi provided a supporting effort in Fargo (1996), written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
For his efforts as Carl Showalter, he arguably should have received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 69th Academy Awards. Considering his impressive performances in other films — Mystery Train (1989), Trees Lounge (1996), and Animal Factory (2000) — it's clear that there's more to his talent than may meet the eye. Not many fans of Steve Buscemi will sit here and debate this spot on the list.
1 Vincent Cassel
One of the greatest French actors to ever live, Vincent Cassel made the transition to Hollywood after starring in various acclaimed titles by directors like Matthieu Kassovitz. Audiences from America may recognize this performer from Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Black Swan (2010). And sure, it's not often that actors outside Hollywood productions receive nominations at the Academy Awards. But for movies, both American and French, he could have been recognized on numerous occasions.
Why He Deserves an Oscar
From La Haine (1995) to Mesrine (2008), he's showcased tremendous talent as a lead actor throughout the years. And in terms of supporting performances, Cassel's efforts in Eastern Promises (2007) would have been enough to warrant a nomination in any other year. But no matter the individual snub, Cassel has consistently shown that he's an Oscar-caliber actor despite never receiving a nomination.
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