# Actor Most Due an Oscar
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 28, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887 "2003-06-28T00:00:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/1 "2003-06-28T00:00:11Z")
Which actor -and of course, actress- who has not yet won an Oscar, will win one before his/her time is through?
That makes sense right?
That is: who is the next previous non-winner that you see inevitably hoisting the Golden statue skyward, thanking a bunch of people you never heard of, and reaching the universally-agreed upon pinnacle of the Hollywood career?
On the men’s side, I see **Bruce Willis** as one possible choice. He has taken on increasingly meaty roles since his _Die Hard_ days and I think, if nothing else, when the right role presents itself, will take home the Oscar as a tribute to the proverbial past body of work. Seriously.
Also (though I am setting myself up for Flame-bait) think **Tom Cruise** will indeed move to the next level and separate himself from the pretty boy image his detractors so enjoy pinning on him. The guy has done films with the best, held his own, and deserves to be recognized.
I had intended to offer my views for the ladies but upon preview, think that maybe I should quit while I’m behind.
O.K. Next?
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### Author:  [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/2 "2003-06-28T01:04:42Z")
I wish **Samuel L. Jackson** would start picking roles with more depth and substance, because I could really get behind his nomination as a serious actor.
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### Author:  [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/3 "2003-06-28T01:19:29Z")
Tom Cruise really should have won for “Born on the 4th of July”
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### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/4 "2003-06-28T01:58:51Z")
John Cusak is definitely getting an Oscar one of these days.
I thought Willis deserved a nomination at least for _12 Monkeys_.
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### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/5 "2003-06-28T03:17:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Also (though I am setting myself up for Flame-bait) think Tom Cruise will indeed move to the next level and separate himself from the pretty boy image his detractors so enjoy pinning on him. The guy has done films with the best, held his own, and deserves to be recognized.
I think Tom Cruise has already done that. I didn’t see him in ‘Magnolia’, but I hear he was fantastic. He’s been seeking out challenging roles for quite a long time, and doing quite well at them.
Has Edward Norton won a best actor Oscar yet? If not, he’s gotta be in the running. Same with Brad Pitt.
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### Author:  [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/6 "2003-06-28T03:23:03Z")
I agree with every name sugested but that of Brad Pitt.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/7 "2003-06-28T03:36:10Z")
I enthusiastically second the nomination of John Cusack. Absolutely guaranteed. He is EXACTLY the sort of actor who’ll nab an OScar someday for that big role.
Edward Norton is a rather obvious choice, as is Brad Pitt, and Johnny Depp might someday win one.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/8 "2003-06-28T04:57:52Z")
Kate Winslet is a stunningly talented actress as well-nominated three times, and never won. (Although the second time, another actress was cheated-Judi Dench).
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### Author:  [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/9 "2003-06-28T05:14:43Z")
I’ll be another name on the list of people that think John Cusack is due for an oscar. There isn’t a movie in which I didn’t enjoy him.
As for **Tom Cruise** , his next movie is **The Last Samurai** which is set for release in December (movie will be fresh in the Academy’s mind at oscar time) and is being directed by **Edward Zwick** (directed Glory, produced Traffic). It has all the tools for an oscar winning movie, guess we just have to see how the actual movie turns out (minor detail, 😉 )
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/10 "2003-06-28T05:26:21Z")
I believe that Tom Cruise is under rated. I think that he has put in some excellent performances.
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### Author:  [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/11 "2003-06-28T05:27:29Z")
I’m slightly disappointed that Sir Ian McKellen’s name hasn’t come up yet… 😉
(He’s been passed over for one, too, which helps his chances, doesn’t it? ;))
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/12 "2003-06-28T05:32:33Z")
I’m sure it’s not inevitable but I **want** Steve Buscemi to win one. He has improved every film I’ve seen him in.
I wouldn’t begrudge an award to any of the people already mentioned including Brad Pitt, they have all done plenty of worthy stuff.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/13 "2003-06-28T05:32:50Z")
I think **Dennis Quaid** is an underrated actor who seems to only be getting better.
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### Author:  [@Fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fang)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/14 "2003-06-28T05:34:06Z")
I think **Ed Harris** is due an Oscar. He has turned in some great performances in great movies - _Apollo 13_, _The Truman Show_, _Glengarry Glen Ross_ - and has never been rewarded. I’d say it’s about time.
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### Author:  [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/15 "2003-06-28T05:35:46Z")
Renee Zellweger, _Down With Love_ notwithstanding.
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### Author:  [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/16 "2003-06-28T12:15:22Z")
It’s funny to see John Cusack mentioned so many times, since I’ve never really seen him as more than a ‘bit’ actor who happens to have more screen time than most bit actors. I honestly can’t say I’ve ever seen him stand out in any movie. Joan Cusack, on the other hand, steals every scene she’s in, in any movie, and I for one am glad she won an Oscar, even if it wasn’t for her best role.
I completely agree when it comes to Johnny Depp and Steve Buscemi: by all rights, they should both have won an Oscar long ago.
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### Author:  [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/17 "2003-06-28T12:27:49Z")
Jack Black should have gotten one for Supporting Actor in “High Fidelity”.
I wouldn’t mind seeing John Goodman win a Supporting Actor Oscar for a Coen Brothers movie. I’ve never seen him in a role that I didn’t like. I’ve seen him in some movies that I didn’t like, but that’s neither here nor there.
Philip Seymore Hoffman will win one someday.
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### Author:  [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/18 "2003-06-28T12:47:48Z")
Sir Ian Holm, without a doubt. He’s been nominated before and has won several critics awards but never taken home an oscar. I think it was a travesty that he was never even nominated for his heartbreaking work in _the sweet hereafter_. Plus, I think he did some kind of movie about a ring, too.
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/19 "2003-06-28T13:06:09Z")
Jeff Bridges
Harvey Keitel
Joe Mantegna
James Gandolfini
Emily Watson
Lorraine Bracco
Sigourney Weaver
And if they ever decide to give a posthumous award,
Robert Mitchum
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### Author:  [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actor-most-due-an-oscar/184887/20 "2003-06-28T17:50:13Z")
Brad Pitt’s done some fine stuff, though I wanted to slug him in the mouth at the end of Seven. (or Se7en? whaddevah)
John Cusack deserves many Oscars.
Did Kevin Kline ever get one? I thiiiink he got Best Supporting for A Fish Called Wanda…
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