Ten actors without an Oscar
By Tanner Banks
3/3/2016, 4:00 p.m.
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Not DiCaprio! With the leader of the Ninja Turtles finally in ownership of one of those golden bastards it’s time to think about all the other great actors who haven’t gotten the Oscar yet. While this is by no means the ten best actors without an Oscar, these were ten, picked in no particular order, who deserve a second look for the award. Without further ado, the Oscar does not go to…
Ian McKellen
This was the first person I thought of. When you’ve got a Tony, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, membership as a Commander of the British Empire and a freaking knighting in 1991, I had to check. But lo and behold the Shakespearean turned wizard, turned super villain, turned sleuth has yet to receive an Oscar. He’s got two nominations for the gold statue and I’d bet the 76-year-old has one more nomination in him.
Patrick Stewart
He and Sir McKellen have a very famous bromance that seems to get better every year. Professor X has yet to actually be nominated for even a single Oscar, and despite his lengthy time on stage he’s only a single Tony nomination to his name as well. Although I doubt Stewart loses much sleep over the Oscar snub. When you’re able to be arguably the most famous captain in the Star Trek (Captain Kirk can suck it!), a golden statue doesn’t seem all that important. And yet the list goes on…
Sylvester Stallone
Up next is a guy most wouldn’t associate with the Oscars because of his preference for big explosions. But believe it or not he’s got three nominations to his name. Although, to be fair, there was a 39-year gap between his nominations. But hey, it ain’t over till it’s over. Yes, Sly Stallone was nominated as an actor and writer in 1977 for Rocky and got a supporting actor nomination for Creed this year, which got him a Golden Globe nod. While he might not be “The Lawwwww” anymore, or a one-man-army Rambo, this actor is anything but Expendable.
Glenn Close
People like to talk about DiCaprio’s give nominations before snagging it this year, well Glenn has gotten nominated six times without a win. So take that for what it’s worth because she proved in the live action 101 Dalmatians that she can turn chicken shit into chicken salad. From 1982-84 she received three straight nominations and her most recent romp at the Oscars was in 2011 for her role in Albert Nobbs. She’s still active with roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and the upcoming Bastards. With 70 in the not-too-distant future, Glenn is looking to add an Oscar to the three Tonys and three Emmys on the shelf before she hangs up the dog fur coat.
Bradley Cooper
2011’s Sexiest Man Alive might not have an Oscar but before this past series Brad rocked three straight years with nominations from 2013-15. Bradley Cooper seems to have a penchant for big bang films with The Hangover trilogy (dear God, why a trilogy), The A-Team, American Hustle, American Sniper, and the aforementioned Guardians of the Galaxy. (Hey, Glenn Close!) Every major role that he’s done recently has been golden, so I doubt that it will be long before he grabs a little golden man.
Helena Bonham Carter
I’ll be honest, this one miiiiight be because she was absolutely made for the role of Bellatrix Lestrange and I’m salty that Harry Potter didn’t get a single Oscar. But that doesn’t detract from her ability to command any role with absolute authority. Whether she’s the Queen of Hearts, a crazy witch with a hard on for Magic Hitler, or something more mundane like Queen Elizabeth, this Tim Burton fixture is an amazing actor who proves that movies can be magic.
Johnny Depp
Speaking of Tim Burton… It’s common thought that Johnny Depp’s parents didn’t believe in Halloween or something, because this guy plays anything and everything. The biggest testament to why he takes so many larger-than-life roles is because he steals the show any time he gets the chance. The roles that he got his nominations for? Sweeny Todd, Sir James Matthew Barrie, and Captain Jack Sparrow. While he may have a jar of dirt, he doesn’t have an Oscar. Yet.
Sigourney Weaver
Excuse me? Sigourney doesn’t have an Oscar? This is one of those really weird situations. Not every great actor has an Oscar; it’s impossible for all of them to get one. But it feels like Weaver has won an Academy Award before. Like she has to have won an award at some point. And yet the facts show that she didn’t get it for Aliens or Working Girl. In fact, she hasn’t gotten a nomination since 1989! I don’t think she’ll be getting the nod for her upcoming roles in Ghostbusters or Avatar 2, 3, or 4. (Jesus, James Cameron, really? 4?) Unrelated but fun fact: Sigourney Weaver is a solid six feet tall.
Will Smith
The. Pursuit. Of. Happyness. God dammit. I don’t care if people thought Will hammed it up. That was one of the best roles I’ve seen filled and every time I see it I truly believe the Fresh Prince is a struggling genius trying to make it selling outdated equipment. Will Smith is a supremely talented actor and while his nepotism may be his downfall (dammit, Jaden), his two nominations for Pursuit and Ali are proof that Will can and will knock it out of the park if given something beyond “relatable guy from the hood.” (Still love you, Men in Black.)
Robert Downey Jr.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he survived the ridiculous amount of drug abuse he put his body through, I’d say RDJ is an unlucky man. He was able to not only play a dude playin’ a dude disguised as another dude, but he rocked that role like a hurricane. BUT it was the year that would go to the late Heath Ledger in his amazing performance as the Joker. That. Sucks. However, it’s still a stretch to call him unlucky when he blurred the lines between playing Iron Man and basically being Iron Man. RDJ can do whatever the hell he wants (nothing new) so I’d be shocked if he doesn’t snag an Oscar.