The 87th Oscar Awards, held in Los Angeles on Sunday February 22, 2015, and in its wake, a lot of movies stars, directors and producers went away with big smiles and shiny golden statues. But in the midst of all this, there are some really big movie stars that have never held a golden statue lovingly while giving an acceptance speech. It will definitely shock you to know that these actors and actresses who have graced our screens with their spectacular acting skills have never received the Academy. See them below:
1. Leonardo Di Caprio
Forever immortalized in his role as Jack in the second highest grossing movie of all time – Titanic ($1.843billion), the 40year old movie veteran is indeed a force to reckon with in Hollywood. Any movie he stars in usually translates to instant success. He has been nominated for the Academy award five times, but unfortunately, he has never won. He has belted two golden globes awards, MTV awards, etc, but the Oscars have kept eluding him.
It’s really hard to believe that Leonardo who is rumored to be dating Rihanna and has starred in awesome movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, The Great Gatsby, Titanic, Blood Diamonds, Shutter island, inception, Romeo and Juliet, Catch me if you can, and of course Aviator has never won an Oscar award. Quite irksome too
2. Donald Sutherland
With over 50 years ‘experience’ in the movie industry, Canadian movie legend Donald Sutherland and father of actor Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer) has shockingly never ever ever won an Academy Award. Popularly remembered for his role as Hawkeye in M*A*S*H in 1960, the Grand Padre Tripp Darling in the ABC series ‘Dirty Sexy Money’ in 2008 and most recently seen in the Hunger Games series in which he plays the role of President Snow, this gentleman has continuously been snubbed by the Oscars.
Dear Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, what would it take to give this legend an Oscar?
3. Johnny Depp
Whether as a mad Mad Hatter, elusive assassin, eccentric chocolate man, or funny, fast talking weirdly dressed Pirate of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp is the poster child for successful movies. With Pirates of the Caribbean, the captain Jack Sparrow and his mythical unsinkable ship – the Black Pearl has grossed over $3 Billion while Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Tourist have grossed over $1.8billion too.
It is however surprising that with more than 30 movies to his credit, 12 People’s Choice Awards and 3 Academy Award nominations, he has never won the Oscar.
4. Tom Cruise
This mega star actor and filmmaker needs no introduction. His brilliance on the screen is indisputable, and fans are always satisfied with his performances. However, despite 3 nominations, clinching an Oscar seems to be Mission Impossible 4 the 2012 highest paid actor.
5. Brad Pitt
Is it not shocking that Brad Pitt, the golden-haired-blue-eyed dashing actor, producer and husband to Angelina Jolie has never won an Academy for his superb acting? Even though he shared a Best Picture Oscar with his cast for ’12 Years a Slave’, one would expect the 51-year old father of 6 to have won the Oscars at least once, having featured in outstanding movies like Troy, Legends of the Fall, Fight Club, Mr and Mrs Smith, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Inglorious Basterds, Seven, Ocean’s 11, 12 & 13, Twelve Monkeys, World War Z, etc.
6. Samuel L Jackson
From Marine Biology major to box office star, the prolific actor with a career that started since the early 1900s has been nominated for the Academy’s just once – Best Supporting Actor for Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. He didn’t win, but the BAFTAs gave him a similar award for that same movie.
According to the Box Office Tracking Company, movies featuring Samuel L Jackson in lead and supporting roles have raked in billions – $4.91 billion precisely, while The Guinness World Records, has estimated his total film grosses at $7.42 billion.
One can only wonder what the convener of SHIELD in the Marvel Avengers Series has to do to get the golden statue.
7. Harrison Ford
Despite the overwhelming success that has trailed his 60-year career, Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones series), Han Solo (Star Wars trilogy), President Marshal (Air Force One) or Harrison Ford (in real life) has never won an Academy Award. In 1997, he was ranked number one in Empire’s ‘Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time’ and his movies till date have grossed over $6 billion, making him the 4th highest grossing U.S domestic box-office star.
8. Robert Downey Jr.
Iron man is inarguably the sweetheart of comic action adaptations. Whenever a movie featuring the Super-Hero is announced, millions of fans around the world usually ‘can’t’ wait to watch Robert Downey’s funny, egoistical and entertaining character. And he never fails to wow them with feats of bravery, wit, sarcasm, and the craziest fight scenes.
With over four decades in the film industry, the Sherlock Holmes actor has been nominated twice for the Academy Award – in 1993 and 2009 for Chaplin and Tropic Thunder respectively – but has never won it.
9. Will Smith
You don’t believe it, do you…? That the smooth and suave Fresh Prince of Bel-Air who started acting in the early 1990s is yet to clinch an Academy Award, right? With lead roles in movies like Men in Black, Independence Day, Bad Boys, The Pursuit of Happyness, I am Legend, Hancock, Hitch and Ali, Will Smith has been ranked by Forbes as the most bankable star worldwide., He has had an accumulated worldwide gross earning of over $100million each in 17 of the 21 films in which he has had leading roles, and as of 2014, his films have grossed $6.6 billion in the global Box Office.
10. Bruce Willis
After appearing in over sixty films, including the highly successful ‘Die Hard series’ where he played tough as nails cop – John McClane, Bruce Willis is one of the most successful actors ever. His movies have grossed $2.64 to $3.05 billion at the North American Box Office and his personal achievements include numerous accolades, awards and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has a list of accolades and awards, but sadly the Academy has not considered him for even one nomination.
11. Hugh Jackman
Actor, musician and producer, Hugh Jackman has had his share of critically acclaimed movie successes. From the unforgiving vampire hunter in Van Helsing and The Wolverine in Xmen, to compassionate tough guy in Les Miserables, this prolific actor has been nominated just once in 2013 for his lead role in Les Miserables. He didn’t win, and he is yet to get any more nominations.
12. Liam Neeson
“I don’t know who you are, but I will find you and I will kill you…”
Whether you have seen the movie series ‘Taken’ or not, chances are high that you have heard this line before. Liam Neeson, the 62 year old Irish actor has been greek god Zeus (Clash of the Titans), Jedi Master Qui Gon (Star Wars), a lion (Aslan in Chronicles of Narnia) and an elite soldier turned Mercenary (Col Hannibal in A-Team) but he has never been an Oscar winner.
Maybe he should call the Academy and say, “I know who you are, and I will find …”, never mind!
13. John Travolta
Best known for his sensational roles in Face Off, Pulp fiction, Grease, From Paris with Love, Saturday Night Fever, etc., this talented actor is yet to win an Oscar, even though he has been nominated twice.
14. Ed Harris
His specialty is in holding his viewers spellbound and wanting for more with his flawless character portrayals. This talented actor, screen writer and director whose career dates back to the early 1980s, has been nominated a total of four times for the Academy Awards. Hopefully, he will win it someday.
15. Mark Wahlberg
Popularly known as ‘Marky Mark’ in his early years in the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, the 43 year old has since transitioned into full time acting, and over the years, he has proven that he made the right choice when he dropped rap music for movies. Some of his movies include Planet of the Apes, The Other Guys, The Departed (for which he received his only Oscar nomination) The Italian Job, Ted and more recently, Transformers – Age of Extinction.
Well, he is still young. Time is on his side.
Other great actors who have never won an Oscar include Keanu Reeves (Matrix, Constantine), Eddie Murphy (Coming to America, Nutty Professor), Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride), etc. Know any actor you think deserves the golden statuettes? Share with us via the comment box.
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