Academy award for Best actor - wikipedia Academy award for Best actor Academy Award for Best Actor The 2018 recipient : Gary Oldman Awarded for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Country United States Presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) First awarded Emil Jannings The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh 1929 ( for performance in films released during the 1927 / 1928 film season ) Currently held by Gary Oldman Darkest Hour ( 2017 ) Website oscars.org The Academy Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. The 1st Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929 with Emil Jannings receiving the award for his roles in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. Currently, nominees are determined by single transferable vote within the actors branch of AMPAS ; winners are selected by a plurality vote from the entire eligible voting members of the Academy. In the first three years of the awards, actors were nominated as the best in their categories. At that time, all of their work during the qualifying period ( as many as three films, in some cases ) was listed after the award. However, during the 3rd ceremony held in 1930, only one of those films was cited in each winner 's final award, even though each of the acting winners had two films following their names on the ballots. The following year, this system was replaced by the current system in which an actor is nominated for a specific performance in a single film. Starting with the 9th ceremony held in 1937, the category was officially limited to five nominations per year. Since its inception, the award has been given to 80 actors. Daniel Day - Lewis has received the most awards in this category with three Oscars. Spencer Tracy and Laurence Olivier were nominated on nine occasions, more than any other actor. As of the 2018 ceremony, Gary Oldman is the most recent winner in this category for portraying Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Contents 1 Winners and nominees 2 Multiple wins and nominations 3 Age superlatives 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External links Winners and Nominees In the following table, the years are listed as per Academy convention, and generally correspond to the year of film release in Los Angeles County ; the ceremonies are always held the following year. For the first five ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned twelve months from August 1 to July 31. For the 6th ceremony held in 1934, the eligibility period lasted from August 1, 1932, to December 31, 1933. Since the 7th ceremony held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31. Emil Jannings was the first winner in this category for his roles in 1928 's The Last Command and 1927 's The Way of All Flesh. Lionel Barrymore won in 1930 for his performance in A Free Soul. Fredric March won twice for his roles in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( 1931 ) and The Best Years of Our Lives ( 1946 ). Clark Gable won in 1934 for his performance in It Happened One Night. Paul Muni won for his role as Louis Pasteur in The Story of Louis Pasteur ( 1936 ), becoming the first Jewish actor to win the award. Spencer Tracy was the first actor to win this category two consecutive years, having won in both 1937 and 1938 for his roles in Captains Courageous and Boys Town including seven other nominations. James Stewart won for his role in The Philadelphia Story ( 1940 ). Gary Cooper won twice for his roles in Sergeant York ( 1941 ) and High Noon ( 1952 ). James Cagney won for playing as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy ( 1942 ). Bing Crosby won in 1944 for his performance in Going My Way. Laurence Olivier won in 1948 for his role as the title character in Hamlet, a film which he himself directed. Humphrey Bogart won for his performance in The African Queen ( 1951 ). William Holden win for his performance in Stalag 17 ( 1953 ). Marlon Brando won twice from seven nominations for his roles in 1954 's On the Waterfront and 1972 's The Godfather. Burt Lancaster won for his role in Elmer Gantry ( 1960 ). Gregory Peck won in 1962 for his performance in To Kill a Mockingbird. Sidney Poitier won in 1963 for his performance in Lilies of the Field, thus becoming the first black actor to win in this category. John Wayne won for his role in 1969 's True Grit. Jack Nicholson won twice from eight nominations for his performances in 1975 's One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest and 1997 's As Good as It Gets. Dustin Hoffman won twice from seven nominations for his performances in Kramer vs. Kramer ( 1979 ) and Rain Man ( 1988 ). Robert De Niro won once from five nominations for his role as Jake LaMotta in 1980 's Raging Bull. Henry Fonda won for his performance in On Golden Pond ( 1981 ). Ben Kingsley won for his portrayal of the title role in Gandhi ( 1982 ). Paul Newman won for his performance in 1986 's The Color of Money. Michael Douglas won in 1987 for his performance in Wall Street. Daniel Day - Lewis is the first and only actor to win this award three times, in 1989, 2007, and 2012, for his performances in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood and Lincoln, respectively. Anthony Hopkins won once from three nominations for his role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in 1991 's The Silence of the Lambs. Al Pacino won once from five nominations for his performance in 1992 's Scent of a Woman. Tom Hanks won two consecutive awards in 1993 and 1994 for his roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump including three other nominations. Geoffrey Rush won for his role as David Helfgott in 1996 's Shine. By virtue of his win in 1998 for Life Is Beautiful, Roberto Benigni became the second actor to win for a role in a film he directed himself. Russell Crowe won for Gladiator ( 2000 ). Denzel Washington won for his role in 2001 's Training Day. At age 29, Adrien Brody became the youngest winner for Best Actor for his performance in 2002 's The Pianist. Sean Penn won twice from five nominations for his roles in 2003 's Mystic River and 2008 's Milk. Jamie Foxx won for his performance as Ray Charles in the 2004 film, Ray. Philip Seymour Hoffman won for his portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote ( 2005 ). Forest Whitaker won for his performance as Idi Amin in the 2006 film, The Last King of Scotland. Jeff Bridges won for his performance in 2009 's Crazy Heart. Colin Firth won for his portrayal of King George VI in 2010 's The King 's Speech. Jean Dujardin became the first French actor to win this award for his performance in the 2011 film The Artist. Matthew McConaughey won for his role as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club ( 2013 ). Eddie Redmayne won for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything ( 2014 ). Leonardo DiCaprio won for his role as Hugh Glass in The Revenant ( 2015 ). Casey Affleck won for his role in Manchester by the Sea ( 2016 ). Table key Indicates the winner § Indicates winner who refused the award Indicates posthumous winner * Indicates posthumous nominee Year Actor Role ( s ) Film Ref. 1920s 1927 / 28 ( 1st ) Emil Jannings Grand Duke Sergius Alexander August Schilling The Last Command The Way of All Flesh Richard Barthelmess Nickie Elkins Patent Leather Kid The Noose The Patent Leather Kid 1928 / 29 ( 2nd ) Warner Baxter The Cisco Kid In Old Arizona George Bancroft Thunderbolt Jim Lang Thunderbolt Chester Morris Chick Williams ( No. 1065 ) Alibi Paul Muni James Dyke The Valiant Lewis Stone Count Pahlen The Patriot 1930s 1929 / 30 ( 3rd ) George Arliss Benjamin Disraeli Disraeli George Arliss The Raja The Green Goddess Wallace Beery Butch `` Machine Gun '' Schmidt The Big House Maurice Chevalier Pierre Mirande Count Alfred Renard The Big Pond The Love Parade Ronald Colman Capt. Hugh `` Bulldog '' Drummond Michel Bulldog Drummond Condemned Lawrence Tibbett Yegor The Rogue Song 1930 / 31 ( 4th ) Lionel Barrymore Stephen Ashe A Free Soul Jackie Cooper Skippy Skinner Skippy Richard Dix Yancey Cravat Cimarron Fredric March Tony Cavendish The Royal Family of Broadway Adolphe Menjou Walter Burns The Front Page 1931 / 32 ( 5th ) Wallace Beery ( TIE ) Andy Purcell -- The Champ The Champ Fredric March ( TIE ) Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Alfred Lunt The Actor The Guardsman 1932 / 33 ( 6th ) Charles Laughton King Henry VIII of England The Private Life of Henry VIII Leslie Howard Peter Standish Berkeley Square Paul Muni James Allen I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 1934 ( 7th ) Clark Gable Peter Warne It Happened One Night Frank Morgan Alessandro -- Duke of Florence The Affairs of Cellini William Powell Nick Charles The Thin Man 1935 ( 8th ) Victor McLaglen Gypo Nolan The Informer Clark Gable Lieutenant Fletcher Christian Mutiny on the Bounty Charles Laughton Captain William Bligh Franchot Tone Midshipman Roger Byam Paul Muni Joe Radek Black Fury 1936 ( 9th ) Paul Muni Louis Pasteur The Story of Louis Pasteur Gary Cooper Longfellow Deeds Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Walter Huston Sam Dodsworth Dodsworth William Powell Godfrey Park My Man Godfrey Spencer Tracy Father Tim Mullin San Francisco 1937 ( 10th ) Spencer Tracy Manuel Fidello Captains Courageous Charles Boyer Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte Conquest Fredric March Norman Maine A Star Is Born Robert Montgomery Danny Night Must Fall Paul Muni Émile Zola The Life of Emile Zola 1938 ( 11th ) Spencer Tracy Father Flanagan Boys Town Charles Boyer Pepe le Moko Algiers James Cagney Rocky Sullivan Angels with Dirty Faces Robert Donat Dr. Andrew Manson The Citadel Leslie Howard Professor Henry Higgins Pygmalion 1939 ( 12th ) Robert Donat Charles Edward Chipping Goodbye, Mr. Chips Clark Gable Rhett Butler Gone with the Wind Laurence Olivier Heathcliff Wuthering Heights Mickey Rooney Mickey Moran Babes in Arms James Stewart Jefferson Smith Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1940s 1940 ( 13th ) James Stewart Macaulay `` Mike '' Connor The Philadelphia Story Charlie Chaplin Adenoid Hynkel / The Barber The Great Dictator Henry Fonda Tom Joad The Grapes of Wrath Raymond Massey Abraham Lincoln Abe Lincoln in Illinois Laurence Olivier Maximilian `` Maxim '' de Winter Rebecca 1941 ( 14th ) Gary Cooper Sgt. Alvin York Sergeant York Cary Grant Roger Adams Penny Serenade Walter Huston Mr. Scratch The Devil and Daniel Webster Robert Montgomery Joe Pendleton Here Comes Mr. Jordan Orson Welles Charles Foster Kane Citizen Kane 1942 ( 15th ) James Cagney George M. Cohan Yankee Doodle Dandy Ronald Colman Charles Rainier Random Harvest Gary Cooper Lou Gehrig The Pride of the Yankees Walter Pidgeon Clem Miniver Mrs. Miniver Monty Woolley Howard The Pied Piper 1943 ( 16th ) Paul Lukas Kurt Muller Watch on the Rhine Humphrey Bogart Rick Blaine Casablanca Gary Cooper Robert Jordan For Whom the Bell Tolls Walter Pidgeon Pierre Curie Madame Curie Mickey Rooney Homer Macauley The Human Comedy 1944 ( 17th ) Bing Crosby Father Chuck O'Malley Going My Way Charles Boyer Gregory Anton Gaslight Barry Fitzgerald Father Fitzgibbon Going My Way Cary Grant Ernie Mott None but the Lonely Heart Alexander Knox Woodrow Wilson Wilson 1945 ( 18th ) Ray Milland Don Birnam The Lost Weekend Bing Crosby Father Chuck O'Malley The Bells of St. Mary 's Gene Kelly Joseph Brady Anchors Aweigh Gregory Peck Father Francis The Keys of the Kingdom Cornel Wilde Frédéric Chopin A Song to Remember 1946 ( 19th ) Fredric March Al Stephenson The Best Years of Our Lives Laurence Olivier King Henry V of England Henry V Larry Parks Al Jolson The Jolson Story Gregory Peck Ezra `` Penny '' Baxter The Yearling James Stewart George Bailey It 's a Wonderful Life 1947 ( 20th ) Ronald Colman Anthony John A Double Life John Garfield Charlie Davis Body and Soul Gregory Peck Philip Schuyler Green Gentleman 's Agreement William Powell Clarence Day, Sr. Life with Father Michael Redgrave Orin Mannon Mourning Becomes Electra 1948 ( 21st ) Laurence Olivier Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Hamlet Lew Ayres Dr. Robert Richardson Johnny Belinda Montgomery Clift Ralph `` Steve '' Stevenson The Search Dan Dailey `` Skid '' Johnson When My Baby Smiles at Me Clifton Webb Lynn Aloysius Belvedere Sitting Pretty 1949 ( 22nd ) Broderick Crawford Willie Stark All the King 's Men Kirk Douglas Michael `` Midge '' Kelly Champion Gregory Peck Brig. General Frank Savage Twelve O'Clock High Richard Todd Cpl. Lachlan `` Lachie '' MacLachlan The Hasty Heart John Wayne Sergeant John M. Stryker Sands of Iwo Jima 1950s 1950 ( 23rd ) José Ferrer Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Louis Calhern Oliver Wendell Holmes The Magnificent Yankee William Holden Joe Gillis Sunset Boulevard James Stewart Elwood P. Dowd Harvey Spencer Tracy Stanley T. Banks Father of the Bride 1951 ( 24th ) Humphrey Bogart Charlie Allnut The African Queen Marlon Brando Stanley Kowalski A Streetcar Named Desire Montgomery Clift George Eastman A Place in the Sun Arthur Kennedy Larry Nevins Bright Victory Fredric March Willy Loman Death of a Salesman 1952 ( 25th ) Gary Cooper Marshal Will Kane High Noon Marlon Brando Emiliano Zapata Viva Zapata ! Kirk Douglas Jonathan Shields The Bad and the Beautiful José Ferrer Henri de Toulouse - Lautrec Comte Alphonse de Toulouse - Lautrec Moulin Rouge Alec Guinness Holland The Lavender Hill Mob 1953 ( 26th ) William Holden Sgt. J.J. Sefton Stalag 17 Marlon Brando Mark Antony Julius Caesar Richard Burton Marcellus Gallio The Robe Montgomery Clift Pvt. Robert E. Lee `` Prew '' Prewitt From Here to Eternity Burt Lancaster 1st Sgt. Milton Warden 1954 ( 27th ) Marlon Brando Terry Malloy On the Waterfront Humphrey Bogart Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg The Caine Mutiny Bing Crosby Frank Elgin The Country Girl James Mason Norman Maine A Star Is Born Dan O'Herlihy Robinson Crusoe Adventures of Robinson Crusoe 1955 ( 28th ) Ernest Borgnine Marty Piletti Marty James Cagney Martin Snyder Love Me or Leave Me James Dean * Cal Trask East of Eden Frank Sinatra Frankie Machine The Man with the Golden Arm Spencer Tracy John J. Macreedy Bad Day at Black Rock 1956 ( 29th ) Yul Brynner King Mongkut of Siam The King and I James Dean * Jett Rink Giant Kirk Douglas Vincent van Gogh Lust for Life Rock Hudson Jordan `` Bick '' Benedict Jr. Giant Laurence Olivier King Richard III of England Richard III 1957 ( 30th ) Alec Guinness Lt. Colonel L. Nicholson, D.S.O. The Bridge on the River Kwai Marlon Brando Major Lloyd `` Ace '' Gruver, USAF Sayonara Anthony Franciosa Polo Pope A Hatful of Rain Charles Laughton Sir Wilfrid Robarts Witness for the Prosecution Anthony Quinn Gino Wild Is the Wind 1958 ( 31st ) David Niven Major Angus Pollock Separate Tables Tony Curtis John `` Joker '' Jackson The Defiant Ones Paul Newman Brick Pollitt Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Sidney Poitier Noah Cullen The Defiant Ones Spencer Tracy The Old Man The Old Man and the Sea 1959 ( 32nd ) Charlton Heston Judah Ben - Hur Ben - Hur Laurence Harvey Joe Lampton Room at the Top Jack Lemmon Jerry / Daphne Some Like It Hot Paul Muni Dr. Sam Abelman The Last Angry Man James Stewart Paul Biegler Anatomy of a Murder 1960s 1960 ( 33rd ) Burt Lancaster Elmer Gantry Elmer Gantry Trevor Howard Walter Morel Sons and Lovers Jack Lemmon C.C. `` Bud '' Baxter The Apartment Laurence Olivier Archie Rice The Entertainer Spencer Tracy Henry Drummond Inherit the Wind 1961 ( 34th ) Maximilian Schell Hans Rolfe Judgment at Nuremberg Charles Boyer Cesar Fanny Paul Newman Eddie Felson The Hustler Spencer Tracy Chief Judge Dan Haywood Judgment at Nuremberg Stuart Whitman Jim Fuller The Mark 1962 ( 35th ) Gregory Peck Atticus Finch To Kill a Mockingbird Burt Lancaster Robert Franklin Stroud Birdman of Alcatraz Jack Lemmon Joe Clay Days of Wine and Roses Marcello Mastroianni Ferdinando Cefalù Divorce Italian Style Peter O'Toole T.E. Lawrence Lawrence of Arabia 1963 ( 36th ) Sidney Poitier Homer Smith Lilies of the Field Albert Finney Tom Jones Tom Jones Richard Harris Frank Machin This Sporting Life Rex Harrison Julius Caesar Cleopatra Paul Newman Hud Bannon Hud 1964 ( 37th ) Rex Harrison Professor Henry Higgins My Fair Lady Richard Burton Thomas Becket Becket Peter O'Toole King Henry II of England Anthony Quinn Alexis Zorba Zorba the Greek Peter Sellers Group Captain Lionel Mandrake President Merkin Muffley Dr. Strangelove Dr. Strangelove or : How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1965 ( 38th ) Lee Marvin Kid Shelleen Tim Strawn Cat Ballou Richard Burton Alec Leamas The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Laurence Olivier Othello Othello Rod Steiger Sol Nazerman The Pawnbroker Oskar Werner Willie Schumann Ship of Fools 1966 ( 39th ) Paul Scofield Sir Thomas More A Man for All Seasons Alan Arkin Lt. Rozanov The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming Richard Burton George Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? Michael Caine Alfie Elkins Alfie Steve McQueen Jake Holman The Sand Pebbles 1967 ( 40th ) Rod Steiger Police Chief Bill Gillespie In the Heat of the Night Warren Beatty Clyde Barrow Bonnie and Clyde Dustin Hoffman Benjamin Braddock The Graduate Paul Newman Lucas `` Cool Hand Luke '' Jackson Cool Hand Luke Spencer Tracy * Matt Drayton Guess Who 's Coming to Dinner 1968 ( 41st ) Cliff Robertson Charly Gordon Charly Alan Arkin John Singer The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Alan Bates Yakov Bok The Fixer Ron Moody Fagin Oliver ! Peter O'Toole King Henry II of England The Lion in Winter 1969 ( 42nd ) John Wayne Reuben `` Rooster '' Cogburn True Grit Richard Burton King Henry VIII of England Anne of the Thousand Days Dustin Hoffman Enrico Salvatore `` Ratso '' `` Rico '' Rizzo Midnight Cowboy Peter O'Toole Arthur Chipping Goodbye, Mr. Chips Jon Voight Joe Buck Midnight Cowboy 1970s 1970 ( 43rd ) George C. Scott § General George S. Patton Jr. Patton Melvyn Douglas Tom Garrison I Never Sang for My Father James Earl Jones Jack Jefferson The Great White Hope Jack Nicholson Robert Eroica Dupea Five Easy Pieces Ryan O'Neal Oliver Barrett IV Love Story 1971 ( 44th ) Gene Hackman Detective Jimmy `` Popeye '' Doyle The French Connection Peter Finch Dr. Daniel Hirsh Sunday Bloody Sunday Walter Matthau Joseph P. Kotcher Kotch George C. Scott Dr. Herbert Bock The Hospital Topol Tevye Fiddler on the Roof 1972 ( 45th ) Marlon Brando § Vito Corleone The Godfather Michael Caine Milo Tindle Sleuth Laurence Olivier Andrew Wyke Peter O'Toole Jack Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney The Ruling Class Paul Winfield Nathan Lee Morgan Sounder 1973 ( 46th ) Jack Lemmon Harry Stoner Save the Tiger Marlon Brando Paul Last Tango in Paris Jack Nicholson Signalman First Class Billy L. `` Badass '' Buddusky The Last Detail Al Pacino Frank Serpico Serpico Robert Redford Johnny `` Kelly '' Hooker The Sting ( 47th ) Art Carney Harry Coombes Harry and Tonto Albert Finney Hercule Poirot Murder on the Orient Express Dustin Hoffman Lenny Bruce Lenny Jack Nicholson J.J. `` Jake '' Gittes Chinatown Al Pacino Michael Corleone The Godfather Part II ( 48th ) Jack Nicholson Randle Patrick `` Mac '' McMurphy One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest Walter Matthau Willy Clark The Sunshine Boys Al Pacino Sonny Wortzik Dog Day Afternoon Maximilian Schell Arthur Goldman The Man in the Glass Booth James Whitmore Harry S. Truman Give ' em Hell, Harry ! 1976 ( 49th ) Peter Finch ^ Howard Beale Network Robert De Niro Travis Bickle Taxi Driver Giancarlo Giannini Pasqualino Frafuso Seven Beauties William Holden Max Schumacher Network Sylvester Stallone Rocky Balboa Rocky 1977 ( 50th ) Richard Dreyfuss Elliot Garfield The Goodbye Girl Woody Allen Alvy Singer Annie Hall Richard Burton Martin Dysart Equus Marcello Mastroianni Gabriele A Special Day John Travolta Anthony `` Tony '' Manero Saturday Night Fever 1978 ( 51st ) Jon Voight Luke Martin Coming Home Warren Beatty Joe Pendleton Heaven Can Wait Gary Busey Buddy Holly The Buddy Holly Story Robert De Niro Michael Vronsky The Deer Hunter Laurence Olivier Ezra Lieberman The Boys from Brazil 1979 ( 52nd ) Dustin Hoffman Ted Kramer Kramer vs. Kramer Jack Lemmon Jack Godell The China Syndrome Al Pacino Arthur Kirkland... And Justice for All Roy Scheider Joe Gideon All That Jazz Peter Sellers Chance the Gardener, aka Chauncey Gardiner Being There 1980s 1980 ( 53rd ) Robert De Niro Jake LaMotta Raging Bull Robert Duvall Lieutenant Colonel Wilbur `` Bull '' Meechum The Great Santini John Hurt John Merrick The Elephant Man Jack Lemmon Scottie Templeton Tribute Peter O'Toole Eli Cross The Stunt Man 1981 ( 54th ) Henry Fonda Norman Thayer Jr. On Golden Pond Warren Beatty John Silas `` Jack '' Reed Reds Burt Lancaster Lou Pascal Atlantic City Dudley Moore Arthur Bach Arthur Paul Newman Michael Colin Gallagher Absence of Malice 1982 ( 55th ) Ben Kingsley Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Gandhi Dustin Hoffman Michael Dorsey, aka Dorothy Michaels Tootsie Jack Lemmon Ed Horman Missing Paul Newman Frank Galvin The Verdict Peter O'Toole Alan Swann My Favorite Year ( 56th ) Robert Duvall Mac Sledge Tender Mercies Michael Caine Dr. Frank Bryant Educating Rita Tom Conti Gowan McGland Reuben, Reuben Tom Courtenay Norman The Dresser Albert Finney Sir 1984 ( 57th ) F. Murray Abraham Antonio Salieri Amadeus Jeff Bridges Starman Starman Albert Finney Geoffrey Firmin Under the Volcano Tom Hulce Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Amadeus Sam Waterston Sydney Schanberg The Killing Fields 1985 ( 58th ) William Hurt Luis Molina Kiss of the Spider Woman Harrison Ford Detective Captain John Book Witness James Garner Murphy Jones Murphy 's Romance Jack Nicholson Charley Partanna Prizzi 's Honor Jon Voight Oscar `` Manny '' Manheim Runaway Train 1986 ( 59th ) Paul Newman Fast Eddie Felson The Color of Money Dexter Gordon Dale Turner Round Midnight Bob Hoskins George Mona Lisa William Hurt James Leeds Children of a Lesser God James Woods Richard Boyle Salvador ( 60th ) Michael Douglas Gordon Gekko Wall Street William Hurt Tom Grunick Broadcast News Marcello Mastroianni Romano Dark Eyes Jack Nicholson Francis Phelan Ironweed Robin Williams Adrian Cronauer Good Morning, Vietnam 1988 ( 61st ) Dustin Hoffman Raymond Babbitt Rain Man Gene Hackman Agent Rupert Anderson Mississippi Burning Tom Hanks Josh Baskin Big Edward James Olmos Jaime Escalante Stand and Deliver Max von Sydow Lassefar Pelle the Conqueror 1989 ( 62nd ) Daniel Day - Lewis Christy Brown My Left Foot Kenneth Branagh King Henry V of England Henry V Tom Cruise Ron Kovic Born on the Fourth of July Morgan Freeman Hoke Colburn Driving Miss Daisy Robin Williams John Charles `` Keats '' Keating Dead Poets Society 1990s 1990 ( 63rd ) Jeremy Irons Claus von Bülow Reversal of Fortune Kevin Costner Lieutenant John J. Dunbar Dances with Wolves Robert De Niro Leonard Lowe Awakenings Gérard Depardieu Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Richard Harris `` Bull '' McCabe The Field 1991 ( 64th ) Anthony Hopkins Dr. Hannibal Lecter The Silence of the Lambs Warren Beatty Benjamin `` Bugsy '' Siegel Bugsy Robert De Niro Maximilian `` Max '' Cady Cape Fear Nick Nolte Tom Wingo The Prince of Tides Robin Williams Henry `` Parry '' Sagan The Fisher King 1992 ( 65th ) Al Pacino Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade Scent of a Woman Robert Downey Jr. Charlie Chaplin Chaplin Clint Eastwood William `` Will '' Munny Unforgiven Stephen Rea Fergus The Crying Game Denzel Washington Malcolm X Malcolm X 1993 ( 66th ) Tom Hanks Andrew Beckett Philadelphia Daniel Day - Lewis Gerry Conlon In the Name of the Father Laurence Fishburne Ike Turner What 's Love Got to Do with It Anthony Hopkins James Stevens The Remains of the Day Liam Neeson Oskar Schindler Schindler 's List 1994 ( 67th ) Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Forrest Gump Morgan Freeman Ellis Boyd `` Red '' Redding The Shawshank Redemption Nigel Hawthorne King George III The Madness of King George Paul Newman Donald `` Sully '' Sullivan Nobody 's Fool John Travolta Vincent Vega Pulp Fiction 1995 ( 68th ) Nicolas Cage Ben Sanderson Leaving Las Vegas Richard Dreyfuss Glenn Holland Mr. Holland 's Opus Anthony Hopkins Richard Nixon Nixon Sean Penn Matthew Poncelet Dead Man Walking Massimo Troisi * Mario Ruoppolo Il Postino ( 69th ) Geoffrey Rush David Helfgott Shine Tom Cruise Jerry Maguire Jerry Maguire Ralph Fiennes Count László de Almásy The English Patient Woody Harrelson Larry Flynt The People vs. Larry Flynt Billy Bob Thornton Karl Childers Sling Blade 1997 ( 70th ) Jack Nicholson Melvin Udall As Good as It Gets Matt Damon Will Hunting Good Will Hunting Robert Duvall Euliss `` Sonny '' Dewey The Apostle Peter Fonda Ulysses `` Ulee '' Jackson Ulee 's Gold Dustin Hoffman Stanley Motss Wag the Dog 1998 ( 71st ) Roberto Benigni Guido Orefice Life Is Beautiful Tom Hanks Captain John Miller Saving Private Ryan Ian McKellen James Whale Gods and Monsters Nick Nolte Wade Whitehouse Affliction Edward Norton Derek Vinyard American History X 1999 ( 72nd ) Kevin Spacey Lester Burnham American Beauty Russell Crowe Jeffrey Wigand The Insider Richard Farnsworth Alvin Straight The Straight Story Sean Penn Emmet Ray Sweet and Lowdown Denzel Washington Rubin `` The Hurricane '' Carter The Hurricane 2000s 2000 ( 73rd ) Russell Crowe Maximus Decimus Meridius Gladiator Javier Bardem Reinaldo Arenas Before Night Falls Tom Hanks Chuck Noland Cast Away Ed Harris Jackson Pollock Pollock Geoffrey Rush The Marquis de Sade Quills 2001 ( 74th ) Denzel Washington Detective Alonzo Harris Training Day Russell Crowe John Forbes Nash Jr. A Beautiful Mind Sean Penn Sam Dawson I Am Sam Will Smith Muhammad Ali Ali Tom Wilkinson Dr. Matt Fowler In the Bedroom 2002 ( 75th ) Adrien Brody Władysław Szpilman The Pianist Nicolas Cage Charlie Kaufman Donald Kaufman Adaptation Michael Caine Thomas Fowler The Quiet American Daniel Day - Lewis William `` Bill the Butcher '' Cutting Gangs of New York Jack Nicholson Warren R. Schmidt About Schmidt 2003 ( 76th ) Sean Penn Jimmy Markum Mystic River Johnny Depp Captain Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean : The Curse of the Black Pearl Ben Kingsley Massoud Amir Behrani House of Sand and Fog Jude Law W.P. Inman Cold Mountain Bill Murray Bob Harris Lost in Translation ( 77th ) Jamie Foxx Ray Charles Ray Don Cheadle Paul Rusesabagina Hotel Rwanda Johnny Depp J.M. Barrie Finding Neverland Leonardo DiCaprio Howard Hughes The Aviator Clint Eastwood Frankie Dunn Million Dollar Baby 2005 ( 78th ) Philip Seymour Hoffman Truman Capote Capote Terrence Howard Djay Hustle & Flow Heath Ledger Ennis Del Mar Brokeback Mountain Joaquin Phoenix Johnny Cash Walk the Line David Strathairn Edward R. Murrow Good Night, and Good Luck 2006 ( 79th ) Forest Whitaker Idi Amin The Last King of Scotland Leonardo DiCaprio Danny Archer Blood Diamond Ryan Gosling Dan Dunne Half Nelson Peter O'Toole Maurice Russell Venus Will Smith Chris Gardner The Pursuit of Happyness 2007 ( 80th ) Daniel Day - Lewis Daniel Plainview There Will Be Blood George Clooney Michael Clayton Michael Clayton Johnny Depp Sweeney Todd / Benjamin Barker Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Tommy Lee Jones Hank Deerfield In the Valley of Elah Viggo Mortensen Nikolai Luzhin Eastern Promises 2008 ( 81st ) Sean Penn Harvey Milk Milk Richard Jenkins Walter Vale The Visitor Frank Langella Richard Nixon Frost / Nixon Brad Pitt Benjamin Button The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Mickey Rourke Randy `` The Ram '' Robinson The Wrestler 2009 ( 82nd ) Jeff Bridges Otis `` Bad '' Blake Crazy Heart George Clooney Ryan Bingham Up in the Air Colin Firth George Falconer A Single Man Morgan Freeman Nelson Mandela Invictus Jeremy Renner SFC William James The Hurt Locker 2010s ( 83rd ) Colin Firth King George VI The King 's Speech Javier Bardem Uxbal Biutiful Jeff Bridges Reuben `` Rooster '' Cogburn True Grit Jesse Eisenberg Mark Zuckerberg The Social Network James Franco Aron Ralston 127 Hours 2011 ( 84th ) Jean Dujardin George Valentin The Artist Demián Bichir Carlos Galindo A Better Life George Clooney Matthew King The Descendants Gary Oldman George Smiley Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brad Pitt Billy Beane Moneyball 2012 ( 85th ) Daniel Day - Lewis Abraham Lincoln Lincoln Bradley Cooper Patrizio `` Pat '' Solitano, Jr. Silver Linings Playbook Hugh Jackman Jean Valjean Les Misérables Joaquin Phoenix Freddie Quell The Master Denzel Washington William `` Whip '' Whitaker, Sr. Flight 2013 ( 86th ) Matthew McConaughey Ron Woodroof Dallas Buyers Club Christian Bale Irving Rosenfeld American Hustle Bruce Dern Woodrow `` Woody '' Grant Nebraska Leonardo DiCaprio Jordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall Street Chiwetel Ejiofor Solomon Northup 12 Years a Slave 2014 ( 87th ) Eddie Redmayne Stephen Hawking The Theory of Everything Steve Carell John du Pont Foxcatcher Bradley Cooper Chris Kyle American Sniper Benedict Cumberbatch Alan Turing The Imitation Game Michael Keaton Riggan Thomson Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance ) 2015 ( 88th ) Leonardo DiCaprio Hugh Glass The Revenant Bryan Cranston Dalton Trumbo Trumbo Matt Damon Mark Watney The Martian Michael Fassbender Steve Jobs Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne Lili Elbe The Danish Girl 2016 ( 89th ) Casey Affleck Lee Chandler Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield Desmond Doss Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling Sebastian Wilder La La Land Viggo Mortensen Ben Cash Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington Troy Maxson Fences 2017 ( 90th ) Gary Oldman Winston Churchill Darkest Hour Timothée Chalamet Elio Perlman Call Me by Your Name Daniel Day - Lewis Reynolds Woodcock Phantom Thread Daniel Kaluuya Chris Washington Get Out Denzel Washington Roman J. Israel Roman J. Israel, Esq. Multiple wins and nominations The following individuals received two or more Best Actor awards : Wins Actor Nominations Daniel Day - Lewis 6 Spencer Tracy 9 Jack Nicholson 8 Marlon Brando 7 Dustin Hoffman Gary Cooper 5 Tom Hanks Fredric March Sean Penn The following individuals received four or more Best Actor nominations : Nominations Actor 9 Laurence Olivier Spencer Tracy 8 Paul Newman Jack Nicholson Peter O'Toole 7 Marlon Brando Dustin Hoffman Jack Lemmon 6 Richard Burton Daniel Day - Lewis Denzel Washington 5 Gary Cooper Robert De Niro Tom Hanks Fredric March Paul Muni Al Pacino Gregory Peck Sean Penn James Stewart Warren Beatty Charles Boyer Michael Caine Leonardo DiCaprio Albert Finney Burt Lancaster Age superlatives Record Actor Film Age ( in years ) Ref. Oldest winner Henry Fonda On Golden Pond 76 Oldest nominee Richard Farnsworth The Straight Story 79 Youngest winner Adrien Brody The Pianist 29 Youngest nominee Jackie Cooper Skippy 9 See also All Academy Award acting nominees Critics ' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Drama Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Notes A ^ : According to longstanding Hollywood legend, reported by Susan Orlean, Rin Tin Tin actually received the most Best Actor votes, but the Academy ( not wishing to give the first award to a dog ) refactored the votes to ensure that Jannings won. B : Rules at the time of the first three ceremonies allowed for a performer to receive a single nomination which could honor their work in more than one film. George Arliss, Maurice Chevalier, and Ronald Colman were all nominated for two different roles in the same category. Current Academy rules forbid this from happening. No official reason was ever given as to why Arliss won the award for only one of the two films he was listed for. C : Fredric March received one more vote than Wallace Beery. Academy rules at that time considered such a close margin to be a tie, so both March and Beery received the award. Under current Academy rules, however, dual awards are given only for exact ties. D ^ : Paul Muni 's performance in Black Fury was not nominated for an Oscar. For two years only, the Academy allowed a write - in vote. Technically, this meant that any performance was eligible for the award. The decision was made the previous year in response to the controversy surrounding Bette Davis 's failure to receive a nomination for Of Human Bondage. Muni came 2nd in the vote ; however, the Academy does not recognize Davis or Muni as nominees in these years. Jump up ^ The 2nd Academy Awards is unique in being the only occasion where there were no official nominees. Subsequent research by AMPAS has resulted in a list of unofficial or de facto nominees, based on records of which films were evaluated by the judges. References Jump up ^ `` Rule One : Award Definitions '' ( PDF ). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). p. 1. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Rule Six : Special Rules for the Acting Awards '' ( PDF ). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). p. 8 - 7. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Levy 2003, p. 56 Jump up ^ Dirks, Tim. `` 1929 -- 38 Academy Awards Winners and History ''. Filmsite. Rainbow Media. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2013. Jump up ^ Crouse 2005, p. 257 ^ Jump up to : Levy 2003, p. 52 ^ Jump up to : Osborne 2013, p. 423 Jump up ^ Crouse 2005, p. 177 Jump up ^ Patel, Tara ( February 27, 2012 ). `` ' The Artist ' Wins Top Oscar Honors in Bow to Silent Film ''. Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 1st Academy Awards ( 1929 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 2nd Academy Awards Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 3rd Academy Awards ( 1930 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 4th Academy Awards ( 1931 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 5th Academy Awards ( 1932 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 6th Academy Awards ( 1933 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 7th Academy Awards ( 1935 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 8th Academy Awards ( 1936 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 9th Academy Awards ( 1937 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 10th Academy Awards ( 1938 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 11th Academy Awards ( 1939 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 12th Academy Awards ( 1940 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 13th Academy Awards ( 1941 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 14th Academy Awards ( 1942 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 15th Academy Awards ( 1943 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 16th Academy Awards ( 1944 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 17th Academy Awards ( 1945 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 18th Academy Awards ( 1946 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 19th Academy Awards ( 1947 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 20th Academy Awards ( 1948 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 21st Academy Awards ( 1949 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 22nd Academy Awards ( 1950 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 23rd Academy Awards ( 1951 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 24th Academy Awards ( 1952 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 25th Academy Awards ( 1953 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 26th Academy Awards ( 1954 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 27th Academy Awards ( 1955 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 28th Academy Awards ( 1956 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Thise 2008, p. 235 Jump up ^ `` The 29th Academy Awards ( 1957 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 30th Academy Awards ( 1958 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 31st Academy Awards ( 1959 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 32nd Academy Awards ( 1960 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 33rd Academy Awards ( 1961 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 34th Academy Awards ( 1962 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 35th Academy Awards ( 1963 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 36th Academy Awards ( 1964 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 37th Academy Awards ( 1965 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 38th Academy Awards ( 1966 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 39th Academy Awards ( 1967 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 40th Academy Awards ( 1968 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 41st Academy Awards ( 1969 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 42nd Academy Awards ( 1970 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Thise 2008, p. 236 Jump up ^ `` The 43rd Academy Awards ( 1971 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 44th Academy Awards ( 1972 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 45th Academy Awards ( 1973 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 46th Academy Awards ( 1974 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 47th Academy Awards ( 1975 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 48th Academy Awards ( 1976 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 49th Academy Awards ( 1977 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 50th Academy Awards ( 1978 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 51st Academy Awards ( 1979 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 52nd Academy Awards ( 1980 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 53rd Academy Awards ( 1980 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 54th Academy Awards ( 1982 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 55th Academy Awards ( 1983 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 56th Academy Awards ( 1984 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 57th Academy Awards ( 1985 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 58th Academy Awards ( 1986 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 59th Academy Awards ( 1987 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 60th Academy Awards ( 1988 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 61st Academy Awards ( 1989 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 62nd Academy Awards ( 1990 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 63rd Academy Awards ( 1991 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 64th Academy Awards ( 1992 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 65th Academy Awards ( 1993 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 66th Academy Awards ( 1994 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 67th Academy Awards ( 1995 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 68th Academy Awards ( 1996 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 69th Academy Awards ( 1997 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 70th Academy Awards ( 1998 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 71st Academy Awards ( 1999 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 72nd Academy Awards ( 2000 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 73rd Academy Awards ( 2001 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 74th Academy Awards ( 2002 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 75th Academy Awards ( 2003 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 76th Academy Awards ( 2004 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 77th Academy Awards ( 2005 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 78th Academy Awards ( 2006 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 79th Academy Awards ( 2007 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 80th Academy Awards ( 2008 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 81st Academy Awards ( 2009 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 82nd Academy Awards ( 2010 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 83rd Academy Awards ( 2011 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 84th Academy Awards ( 2012 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 85th Academy Awards ( 2013 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The 86th Academy Awards ( 2014 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The 87th Academy Awards ( 2015 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` The 88th Academy Awards ( 2016 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The 89th Academy Awards ( 2017 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Barnes, Brooks ( 2018 ). `` 2018 Oscar Nominations : ' The Shape of Water ' Leads With 13 Nominations ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 23. ^ Jump up to : `` Oldest / Youngest Acting Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ). Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2014. Jump up ^ Orlean, Susan ( August 29, 2011 ). `` The Dog Star ''. The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Brooks, Xan. `` Award posthumous Oscar to dog star Rin Tin Tin, says biographer ''. The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Orlean 2011, pp. 88 -- 89 Jump up ^ Rooney, David ( November 25, 2003 ). `` On the double - bubble ''. Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2013. Jump up ^ Levy 2003, p. 116 Jump up ^ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 1002 Jump up ^ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 1045 Jump up ^ Levy 2003, p. 51 Jump up ^ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 65 Bibliography Crouse, Richard ( 2005 ). Reel Winners : Movie Award Trivia. Toronto, Ontario, Canada : University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978 - 1 - 55002 - 574 - 3. Levy, Emanuel ( 2003 ), All About Oscar : The History and Politics of the Academy Awards, New York, United States : Continuum International Publishing Group, ISBN 978 - 0 - 82641 - 452 - 6 Orlean, Susan ( 2011 ). Rin Tin Tin : The Life and the Legend. New York, United States : Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978 - 1 - 43919 - 015 - 9. Osborne, Robert ( 2013 ). 85 Years of the Oscar : The Complete History of the Academy Awards. New York, United States : Abbeville Publishing Group. ISBN 978 - 078921 - 142 - 2. Thise, Mark ( 2008 ), Hollywood Winners & Loseres A to Z, New York, United States : Limelight Editions, ISBN 978 - 0 - 87910 - 351 - 4 Wiley, Mason ; Bona, Damien ( 1996 ), Inside Oscar : The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards ( 5 ed. ), New York, United States : Ballantine Books, ISBN 978 - 0 - 34540 - 053 - 6, OCLC 779680732 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Academy Award for Best Actor. Oscars.org ( official Academy site ) The Academy Awards Database ( official site ) Oscar.com ( official ceremony promotional site ) Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) Records Most wins per ceremony Oscar season Governors Awards Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Pre-show Awards of Merit Best Picture Director Actor Actress Supporting Actor Supporting Actress Adapted Screenplay Original Screenplay Animated Feature Documentary Feature Foreign Language Film Animated Short Film Documentary Short Subject Live Action Short Film Cinematography Costume Design Film Editing Makeup and Hairstyling Original Score Original Song Production Design Sound Editing Sound Mixing Visual Effects Special awards Governors Awards Academy Honorary Award Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Special Achievement Academy Award Academy Scientific and Technical Awards Academy Award of Merit ( non-competitive ) Scientific and Engineering Award Technical Achievement Award John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation Gordon E. Sawyer Award Student Awards Student Academy Award Former awards Merit Awards Assistant Director Dance Direction Story Special Awards Academy Juvenile Award Ceremonies ‡ ( List Book ) 1927 / 28 1928 / 29 1929 / 30 1930 / 31 1931 / 32 1932 / 33 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Footnote ‡ Dates and years listed for each ceremony were the eligibility period of film release in Los Angeles County. For the first five ceremonies, the eligibility period was done on a seasonal basis, from August to July. For the 6th ceremony, held in 1934, the eligibility period lasted from August 1, 1932 to December 31, 1933. Since the 7th ceremony held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31. Book Category Portal Academy Awards lists Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) Records Oscar season Oscar speech History of film Most wins per ceremony Combined major Oscars Superlatives Big Five All four acting categories Combined major awards Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award careers Acting All nominees Best Actor ( by age ) Best Actress ( by age ) Best Supporting Actor ( by age ) Best Supporting Actress ( by age ) Acting noms in foreign language Actor multi-nom years Multi-Best Picture acting careers Multi-win Actors Multi-nom Actors Love curse Directing Best Director ( by age ) Film Films Foreign - language wins Foreign - language nominees Foreign - language noms in other categories Foreign - language : count by country Animated feature noms in other categories Ethnicity African Argentine Asian Australian Black Brazilian British Canadian Chilean Colombian Cuban French German - speaking Greek Hispanic - American ( U.S. ) Indian Iranian Italian Jewish Latin American Mexican New Zealand Nordic Pakistani Polish Puerto Rican Spanish Uruguayan Other Ceremonies Families False names LGBT Multi-win years Posthumous Best Picture Presenters Trophy displays Oldest and Youngest Awards for Walt Disney Women in Non-gendered Categories Book Category Portal Academy Award for Best Actor 1928 -- 1950 Emil Jannings ( 1928 ) Warner Baxter ( 1929 ) George Arliss ( 1930 ) Lionel Barrymore ( 1931 ) Fredric March / Wallace Beery ( 1932 ) Charles Laughton ( 1933 ) Clark Gable ( 1934 ) Victor McLaglen ( 1935 ) Paul Muni ( 1936 ) Spencer Tracy ( 1937 ) Spencer Tracy ( 1938 ) Robert Donat ( 1939 ) James Stewart ( 1940 ) Gary Cooper ( 1941 ) James Cagney ( 1942 ) Paul Lukas ( 1943 ) Bing Crosby ( 1944 ) Ray Milland ( 1945 ) Fredric March ( 1946 ) Ronald Colman ( 1947 ) Laurence Olivier ( 1948 ) Broderick Crawford ( 1949 ) José Ferrer ( 1950 ) 1951 -- 1975 Humphrey Bogart ( 1951 ) Gary Cooper ( 1952 ) William Holden ( 1953 ) Marlon Brando ( 1954 ) Ernest Borgnine ( 1955 ) Yul Brynner ( 1956 ) Alec Guinness ( 1957 ) David Niven ( 1958 ) Charlton Heston ( 1959 ) Burt Lancaster ( 1960 ) Maximilian Schell ( 1961 ) Gregory Peck ( 1962 ) Sidney Poitier ( 1963 ) Rex Harrison ( 1964 ) Lee Marvin ( 1965 ) Paul Scofield ( 1966 ) Rod Steiger ( 1967 ) Cliff Robertson ( 1968 ) John Wayne ( 1969 ) George C. Scott ( 1970 ) Gene Hackman ( 1971 ) Marlon Brando ( 1972 ) Jack Lemmon ( 1973 ) Art Carney ( 1974 ) Jack Nicholson ( 1975 ) 1976 -- 2000 Peter Finch ( 1976 ) Richard Dreyfuss ( 1977 ) Jon Voight ( 1978 ) Dustin Hoffman ( 1979 ) Robert De Niro ( 1980 ) Henry Fonda ( 1981 ) Ben Kingsley ( 1982 ) Robert Duvall ( 1983 ) F. Murray Abraham ( 1984 ) William Hurt ( 1985 ) Paul Newman ( 1986 ) Michael Douglas ( 1987 ) Dustin Hoffman ( 1988 ) Daniel Day - Lewis ( 1989 ) Jeremy Irons ( 1990 ) Anthony Hopkins ( 1991 ) Al Pacino ( 1992 ) Tom Hanks ( 1993 ) Tom Hanks ( 1994 ) Nicolas Cage ( 1995 ) Geoffrey Rush ( 1996 ) Jack Nicholson ( 1997 ) Roberto Benigni ( 1998 ) Kevin Spacey ( 1999 ) Russell Crowe ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Denzel Washington ( 2001 ) Adrien Brody ( 2002 ) Sean Penn ( 2003 ) Jamie Foxx ( 2004 ) Philip Seymour Hoffman ( 2005 ) Forest Whitaker ( 2006 ) Daniel Day - Lewis ( 2007 ) Sean Penn ( 2008 ) Jeff Bridges ( 2009 ) Colin Firth ( 2010 ) Jean Dujardin ( 2011 ) Daniel Day - Lewis ( 2012 ) Matthew McConaughey ( 2013 ) Eddie Redmayne ( 2014 ) Leonardo DiCaprio ( 2015 ) Casey Affleck ( 2016 ) Gary Oldman ( 2017 ) refused award that year Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Academy_Award_for_Best_Actor&oldid=850550501 '' Categories : Academy Awards Best Actor Academy Award winners Film awards for lead actor Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from March 2018 Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Aragonés Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Беларуская Български Boarisch Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Қазақша Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Magyar Македонски მარგალური مصرى Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Plattdüütsch Polski Português Română Русский Scots Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 49 more Edit links This page was last edited on 16 July 2018, at 15 : 32 ( UTC ). 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Question: who won the academy award for best actor
Answer: Gary Oldman