# So now who is the greatest actor/actress never nominated for an Oscar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566 "2012-01-25T02:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/1 "2012-01-25T02:18:08Z")
The amazing Gary Oldman, who has more range than an ICBM, has finally gotten an Oscar nomination. Who would you now say is the best actor or actress who’s never been nominated **who is still working?** ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/2 "2012-01-25T02:43:58Z")
I’m sure there are others, but the first to come to mind for me is ## [Brian Cox-](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004051/awards) brilliant character actor, busy on TV, stage, low budget arthouse films, big budget blockbusters, you name it. He may be most famous for originating the role of Hannibal Lecter (in Manhunter- very different take from Hopkins) but he’s played good guys, bad guys, charlatans, leaders, you name it, all with great skill. He has been nominated for [several awards](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004051/awards) and won some very prestigious ones, but never an Oscar. Christopher Plummer just got his second nomination, but I was surprised that his first was not until 2010. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/3 "2012-01-25T02:48:28Z")
Alan Rickman? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/4 "2012-01-25T03:16:55Z")
Rickman’s a good choice. I’d add Martin Sheen and Donald Sutherland, though neither have done anything that great lately. Jim Carrey seems to have gone cuckoo bananas now, but there was a five year stretch where he could have easily gotten two or three. Steve Buscemi is a guy that comes to mind as someone who should have gotten a supporting actor nod or two. While I’m on the Coens’ movies, I’d add John Goodman in there. Ewan McGregor still has lots of time, but it’s strange to think he hasn’t gotten one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/5 "2012-01-25T03:29:59Z")
Richard Gere, Steve Martin, and Bruce Willis have never been nominated. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/6 "2012-01-25T03:32:03Z")
[QUOTE=Raygun99] I’d add Martin Sheen and Donald Sutherland, though neither have done anything that great lately. [/QUOTE] I’m surprised to learn Sutherland hasn’t been nominated; I’d have thought _M_A_S_H\* or even _Animal House_ or any of a dozen lesser knowns would have gotten him a nomination. He’s been nominated for many of the other major film acting awards. [QUOTE=Raygun00] Jim Carrey seems to have gone cuckoo bananas now [/quote] That’s what getting vaccines from Jenny McCarthy will do to you. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/7 "2012-01-25T03:32:27Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > While I’m on the Coens’ movies, I’d add John Goodman in there. Or John Turturro. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/8 "2012-01-25T03:38:09Z")
Jamie Lee Curtis has never been nominated and she’s had some really good performances (though several of them comic and the Academy is less likely to recognize a comedic performance than a dramatic one). Her husband Christopher Guest hasn’t been nominated either, which surprises me less for his acting work (though I think his role in _Waiting for Guffman_ was Oscar nomination worthy) than for his directing. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/9 "2012-01-25T03:44:55Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Alan Rickman? Wow, I did not realize he’d never been nominated. I think he really deserved it for Snape, but now he’ll never get one for it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/10 "2012-01-25T05:07:50Z")
> [@2011 Oscar nominations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2011-oscar-nominations/610497/55): > > Melissa McCarthy did an awesome job in Bridesmaids. I thought she stole the movie with her character. Didn’t know she had it in her. Hah! I just realized I posted this in the wrong thread. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/11 "2012-01-25T15:37:51Z")
Andy Serkis probably deserves mention. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/12 "2012-01-25T15:46:49Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Andy Serkis probably deserves mention. Indeed. The “academy” needs to join the 21st century and recognize a new type of acting, or just count it as regular acting. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/13 "2012-01-25T16:45:20Z")
NM. Thought the OP said “ever” not “never”. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/14 "2012-01-25T17:31:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Richard Gere, Steve Martin, and Bruce Willis have never been nominated. I think you misread the OP. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/15 "2012-01-25T20:56:49Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m sure there are others, but the first to come to mind for me is > > [Brian Cox-](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004051/awards) brilliant character actor, busy on TV, stage, low budget arthouse films, big budget blockbusters, you name it. He may be most famous for originating the role of Hannibal Lecter (in Manhunter- very different take from Hopkins) but he’s played good guys, bad guys, charlatans, leaders, you name it, all with great skill. > He has been nominated for [several awards](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004051/awards) and won some very prestigious ones, but never an Oscar. He was the first one that comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/16 "2012-01-25T21:00:15Z")
Kurt Russell has been excellent in many things, but of course he also loves the low brow stuff. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Silkwood and I thought he should have been nominated for _Miracle_. I think he is an excellent actor who doesn’t necessarily do Oscar type movies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/17 "2012-01-25T21:07:28Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Kurt Russell has been excellent in many things, but of course he also loves the low brow stuff. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Silkwood and I thought he should have been nominated for _Miracle_. I think he is an excellent actor who doesn’t necessarily do Oscar type movies. Which brings to mind _Tombstone,_ which brings to mind that Val Kilmer was as terrific as Doc Holliday as he was perfect as Jim Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/18 "2012-01-25T21:15:12Z")
I was going to suggest Jonah Hill, but… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/19 "2012-01-26T04:49:33Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Kurt Russell has been excellent in many things, but of course he also loves the low brow stuff. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Silkwood and I thought he should have been nominated for _Miracle_. I think he is an excellent actor who doesn’t necessarily do Oscar type movies. Even if there were no other reasons, his career would be amazing for its longevity. Next year, he’ll hit his _fiftieth_ year as a working actor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-who-is-the-greatest-actor-actress-never-nominated-for-an-oscar/610566/20 "2012-01-26T04:55:45Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I think you misread the OP. No, Gere, Martin, and Willis have all done credible work that’s as good as some of the stuff that has won. Check out _Days of Heaven, Chicago, Brooklyn’s Finest, All of Me, L.A. Story, Bowfinger, Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Sixth Sense_.