Academy Award for Best Actor

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit.  It is presented each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).  It is to recognize an actor with an outstanding performance in a movie. Before 1976, this award was called the Academy Award of Merit for Performance by an Actor. Since the beginning the award has commonly been called the Oscar for Best Actor.

Actors are nominated for this award by Academy members who are actors and actresses themselves.  The winner is selected by the Academy membership as a whole.

Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first in bold, followed by the other nominees.

1920s
 Year Actor Movie Role 1927/28(1st) Emil Jannings The Last Command Grand Duke Sergius Alexander The Way of All Flesh August Schilling Richard Barthelmess The Noose Nickie Elkins The Patent Leather Kid Patent Leather Kid 1928/29(2nd) Warner Baxter In Old Arizona The Cisco Kid George Bancroft Thunderbolt Thunderbolt Jim Lang Chester Morris Alibi Chick Williams (No. 1065) Paul Muni The Valiant James Dyke Lewis Stone The Patriot Count Pahlen

1930s
 Year Actor Movie Role 1929/30(3rd) George Arliss Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli George Arliss The Green Goddess The Raja of Rukh Wallace Beery The Big House 'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt Maurice Chevalier The Big Pond Pierre Mirande Maurice Chevalier The Love Parade Count Alfred Renard Ronald Colman Bulldog Drummond Capt. Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond Ronald Colman Condemned Michel Lawrence Tibbett The Rogue Song Yegor 1930/31(4th) Lionel Barrymore A Free Soul Stephen Ashe Adolphe Menjou The Front Page Walter Burns Jackie Cooper Skippy Skippy Skinner Richard Dix Cimarron Yancey Cravat Fredric March The Royal Family of Broadway Tony Cavendish 1931/32(5th) Wallace Beery (tie) The Champ Andy "Champ" Purcell Fredric March (tie) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Henry L. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde Alfred Lunt The Guardsman The Actor 1932/33(6th) Charles Laughton The Private Life of Henry VIII King Henry VIII of England Leslie Howard Berkeley Square Peter Standish Paul Muni I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang James Allen 1934(7th) Clark Gable It Happened One Night Peter Warne Frank Morgan The Affairs of Cellini Alessandro - Duke of Florence William Powell The Thin Man Nick Charles 1935(8th) Victor McLaglen The Informer Gypo Nolan Clark Gable Mutiny on the Bounty Fletcher Christian Charles Laughton Mutiny on the Bounty William Bligh Franchot Tone Mutiny on the Bounty Roger Byam 1936(9th) Paul Muni The Story of Louis Pasteur Louis Pasteur Gary Cooper Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Longfellow Deeds Walter Huston Dodsworth Sam Dodsworth William Powell My Man Godfrey Godfrey Park Spencer Tracy San Francisco Father Tim Mullin 1937(10th) Spencer Tracy Captains Courageous Manuel Charles Boyer Conquest Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte Fredric March A Star Is Born Norman Maine Robert Montgomery Night Must Fall Danny Paul Muni The Life of Emile Zola Émile Zola 1938(11th) Spencer Tracy Boys Town Father Flanagan Charles Boyer Algiers Pepe le Moko James Cagney Angels with Dirty Faces Rocky Sullivan Robert Donat The Citadel Dr. Andrew Manson Leslie Howard Pygmalion Professor Henry Higgins 1939(12th) Robert Donat Goodbye, Mr. Chips Charles Edward Chipping Clark Gable Gone with the Wind Rhett Butler Laurence Olivier Wuthering Heights Heathcliff Mickey Rooney Babes in Arms Mickey Moran James Stewart Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Jefferson Smith

1940s
 Year Actor Movie Role(s) 1940(13th) James Stewart The Philadelphia Story Macaulay Connor Charlie Chaplin The Great Dictator Adenoid Hynkel (Dictator of Tomania)A Jewish Barber Henry Fonda The Grapes of Wrath Tom Joad Raymond Massey Abe Lincoln in Illinois Abraham Lincoln Laurence Olivier Rebecca 'Maxim' de Winter 1941(14th) Gary Cooper Sergeant York Alvin C. York Cary Grant Penny Serenade Roger Adams Walter Huston The Devil and Daniel Webster Mr. Scratch Robert Montgomery Here Comes Mr. Jordan Joe Pendleton Orson Welles Citizen Kane Charles Foster Kane 1942(15th) James Cagney Yankee Doodle Dandy George M. Cohan Ronald Colman Random Harvest Charles Rainier Gary Cooper The Pride of the Yankees Lou Gehrig Walter Pidgeon Mrs. Miniver Clem Miniver Monty Woolley The Pied Piper Howard 1943(16th) Paul Lukas Watch on the Rhine Kurt Muller Humphrey Bogart Casablanca Rick Blaine Gary Cooper For Whom the Bell Tolls Robert Jordan Walter Pidgeon Madame Curie Pierre Curie Mickey Rooney The Human Comedy Homer Macauley 1944(17th) Bing Crosby Going My Way Father Chuck O'Malley Charles Boyer Gaslight Gregory Anton Barry Fitzgerald Going My Way Father Fitzgibbon Cary Grant None but the Lonely Heart Ernie Mott Alexander Knox Wilson Woodrow Wilson 1945(18th) Ray Milland The Lost Weekend Don Birnam Bing Crosby The Bells of St. Mary's Father Chuck O'Malley Gene Kelly Anchors Aweigh Joseph Brady Gregory Peck The Keys of the Kingdom Father Francis Cornel Wilde A Song to Remember Frédéric Chopin 1946(19th) Fredric March The Best Years of Our Lives Al Stephenson Laurence Olivier Henry V King Henry V of England Larry Parks The Jolson Story Al Jolson Gregory Peck The Yearling Ezra 'Penny' Baxter James Stewart It's a Wonderful Life George Bailey 1947(20th) Ronald Colman A Double Life Anthony John John Garfield Body and Soul Charlie Davis Gregory Peck Gentleman's Agreement Philip Schuyler Green William Powell Life with Father Clarence Day, Sr. Michael Redgrave Mourning Becomes Electra Orin Mannon 1948(21st) Laurence Olivier Hamlet Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Lew Ayres Johnny Belinda Dr. Robert Richardson Montgomery Clift The Search Ralph 'Steve' Stevenson Dan Dailey When My Baby Smiles at Me 'Skid' Johnson Clifton Webb Sitting Pretty Lynn Belvedere 1949(22nd) Broderick Crawford All the King's Men Willie Stark Kirk Douglas Champion Michael 'Midge' Kelly Gregory Peck Twelve O'Clock High General Savage Richard Todd The Hasty Heart Cpl. Lachlan 'Lachie' MacLachlan John Wayne Sands of Iwo Jima Sgt. John M. Stryker

1950s
 Year Actor Movie Role(s) 1950(23rd) José Ferrer Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Louis Calhern The Magnificent Yankee Oliver Wendell Holmes William Holden Sunset Boulevard Joe Gillis James Stewart Harvey Elwood P. Dowd Spencer Tracy Father of the Bride Stanley T. Banks 1951(24th) Humphrey Bogart The African Queen Charlie Allnut Marlon Brando A Streetcar Named Desire Stanley Kowalski Montgomery Clift A Place in the Sun George Eastman Arthur Kennedy Bright Victory Larry Nevins Fredric March Death of a Salesman Willy Loman 1952(25th) Gary Cooper High Noon Marshal Will Kane Marlon Brando Viva Zapata! Emiliano Zapata Kirk Douglas The Bad and the Beautiful Jonathan Shields José Ferrer Moulin Rouge Henri de Toulouse-LautrecThe Comte de Toulouse-Lautrec Alec Guinness The Lavender Hill Mob Henry Holland 1953(26th) William Holden Stalag 17 Sgt. J.J. Sefton Marlon Brando Julius Caesar Mark Antony Richard Burton The Robe Marcellus Gallio Montgomery Clift From Here to Eternity Pvt. Robert E. Lee 'Prew' Prewitt Burt Lancaster From Here to Eternity 1st Sgt. Milton Warden 1954(27th) Marlon Brando On the Waterfront Terry Malloy Humphrey Bogart The Caine Mutiny Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg Bing Crosby The Country Girl Frank Elgin James Mason A Star Is Born Norman Maine Dan O'Herlihy Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Robinson Crusoe 1955(28th) Ernest Borgnine Marty Marty Piletti James Cagney Love Me or Leave Me Martin Snyder James Dean(posthumous nomination) East of Eden Cal Trask Frank Sinatra The Man with the Golden Arm Frankie Machine Spencer Tracy Bad Day at Black Rock John J. Macreedy 1956(29th) Yul Brynner The King and I King Mongkut of Siam James Dean(posthumous nomination) Giant Jett Rink Kirk Douglas Lust for Life Vincent van Gogh Rock Hudson Giant Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr. Laurence Olivier Richard III King Richard III of England 1957(30th) Alec Guinness The Bridge on the River Kwai Colonel Nicholson Marlon Brando Sayonara Maj. Lloyd 'Ace' Gruver — USAF Anthony Franciosa A Hatful of Rain Polo Pope Charles Laughton Witness for the Prosecution Sir Wilfrid Robarts Anthony Quinn Wild Is the Wind Gino 1958(31st) David Niven Separate Tables Major Angus Pollock Tony Curtis The Defiant Ones John 'Joker' Jackson Paul Newman Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Brick Pollitt Sidney Poitier The Defiant Ones Noah Cullen Spencer Tracy The Old Man and the Sea The Old Man 1959(32nd) Charlton Heston Ben-Hur Judah Ben-Hur Laurence Harvey Room at the Top Joe Lampton Jack Lemmon Some Like It Hot Jerry Paul Muni The Last Angry Man Dr. Sam Abelman James Stewart Anatomy of a Murder Paul Biegler

1960s
 Year Actor Movie Role(s) 1960(33rd) Burt Lancaster Elmer Gantry Elmer Gantry Trevor Howard Sons and Lovers Walter Morel Jack Lemmon The Apartment C. C. 'Bud' Baxter Laurence Olivier The Entertainer Archie Rice Spencer Tracy Inherit the Wind Henry Drummond 1961(34th) Maximilian Schell Judgment at Nuremberg Hans Rolfe Charles Boyer Fanny Cesar Paul Newman The Hustler Eddie Felson Spencer Tracy Judgment at Nuremberg Chief Judge Dan Haywood Stuart Whitman The Mark Jim Fuller 1962(35th) Gregory Peck To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch Burt Lancaster Birdman of Alcatraz Robert Stroud Jack Lemmon Days of Wine and Roses Joe Clay Marcello Mastroianni Divorce, Italian Style Ferdinando Cefalù Peter O'Toole Lawrence of Arabia T. E. Lawrence 1963(36th) Sidney Poitier Lilies of the Field Homer Smith Albert Finney Tom Jones Tom Jones Richard Harris This Sporting Life Frank Machin Rex Harrison Cleopatra Julius Caesar Paul Newman Hud Hud Bannon 1964(37th) Rex Harrison My Fair Lady Professor Henry Higgins Richard Burton Becket Thomas Becket Peter O'Toole Becket King Henry II of England Anthony Quinn Zorba the Greek Alexis Zorba Peter Sellers Dr. Strangelove Group Captain Lionel MandrakePresident Merkin MuffleyDr. Strangelove 1965(38th) Lee Marvin Cat Ballou Kid ShelleenTim Strawn Richard Burton The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Alec Leamas Laurence Olivier Othello Othello Rod Steiger The Pawnbroker Sol Nazerman Oskar Werner Ship of Fools Willie Schumann 1966(39th) Paul Scofield A Man for All Seasons Sir Thomas More Alan Arkin The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming Lt. Rozanov Richard Burton Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Michael Caine Alfie Alfie Elkins Steve McQueen The Sand Pebbles Jake Holman 1967(40th) Rod Steiger In the Heat of the Night Police Chief Bill Gillespie Warren Beatty Bonnie and Clyde Clyde Barrow Dustin Hoffman The Graduate Benjamin Braddock Paul Newman Cool Hand Luke Luke Jackson Spencer Tracy(posthumous nomination) Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Matt Drayton 1968(41st) Cliff Robertson Charly Charly Gordon Alan Arkin The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter John Singer Alan Bates The Fixer Yakov Bok Ron Moody Oliver! Fagin Peter O'Toole The Lion in Winter King Henry II of England 1969(42nd) John Wayne True Grit Rooster Cogburn Richard Burton Anne of the Thousand Days King Henry VIII of England Dustin Hoffman Midnight Cowboy Enrico Salvatore 'Ratso' Rizzo Peter O'Toole Goodbye, Mr. Chips Arthur Chipping Jon Voight Midnight Cowboy Joe Buck

1970s
 Year Actor Movie Role 1970(43rd) George C. Scott (declined) Patton Gen. George S. Patton Jr. Melvyn Douglas I Never Sang for My Father Tom Garrison James Earl Jones The Great White Hope Jack Jefferson Jack Nicholson Five Easy Pieces Robert Eroica Dupea Ryan O'Neal Love Story Oliver Barrett IV 1971(44th) Gene Hackman The French Connection Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle Peter Finch Sunday Bloody Sunday Doctor Daniel Hirsh Walter Matthau Kotch Joseph P. Kotcher George C. Scott The Hospital Doctor Herbert Bock Chaim Topol Fiddler on the Roof Tevye 1972(45th) Marlon Brando (declined) The Godfather Vito Corleone Michael Caine Sleuth Milo Tindle Laurence Olivier Sleuth Andrew Wyke Peter O'Toole The Ruling Class Jack Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney Paul Winfield Sounder Nathan Lee Morgan 1973(46th) Jack Lemmon Save the Tiger Harry Stoner Marlon Brando Last Tango in Paris Paul Jack Nicholson The Last Detail Billy Buddusky Al Pacino Serpico Frank Serpico Robert Redford The Sting Johnny Hooker 1974(47th) Art Carney Harry and Tonto Harry Coombes Albert Finney Murder on the Orient Express Hercule Poirot Dustin Hoffman Lenny Lenny Bruce Jack Nicholson Chinatown Jake 'J.J.' Gittes Al Pacino The Godfather Part II Michael Corleone 1975(48th) Jack Nicholson One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Randle Patrick McMurphy Walter Matthau The Sunshine Boys Willy Clark Al Pacino Dog Day Afternoon Sonny Wortzik Maximilian Schell The Man in the Glass Booth Arthur Goldman James Whitmore Give 'em Hell, Harry! Harry S. Truman 1976(49th) Peter Finch (posthumous win) Network Howard Beale Robert De Niro Taxi Driver Travis Bickle Giancarlo Giannini Seven Beauties Pasqualino Frafuso William Holden Network Max Schumacher Sylvester Stallone Rocky Rocky Balboa 1977(50th) Richard Dreyfuss The Goodbye Girl Elliot Garfield Woody Allen Annie Hall Alvy Singer Richard Burton Equus Martin Dysart Marcello Mastroianni A Special Day Gabriele John Travolta Saturday Night Fever Tony Manero 1978(51st) Jon Voight Coming Home  Luke Martin Warren Beatty Heaven Can Wait Joe Pendleton Gary Busey The Buddy Holly Story Buddy Holly Robert De Niro The Deer Hunter Michael Vronsky Laurence Olivier The Boys from Brazil Ezra Lieberman 1979(52nd) Dustin Hoffman Kramer vs. Kramer Ted Kramer Jack Lemmon The China Syndrome Jack Godell Al Pacino ...And Justice for All Arthur Kirkland Roy Scheider All That Jazz Joe Gideon Peter Sellers Being There Chance

1980s
 Year Actor Movie Role 1980(53rd)Robert De Niro Raging Bull Jake LaMotta Robert Duvall The Great Santini Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meechum John Hurt The Elephant Man John Merrick Jack Lemmon Tribute Scottie Templeton Peter O'Toole The Stunt Man Eli Cross 1981(54th) Henry Fonda On Golden Pond Norman Thayer Warren Beatty Reds John Reed Burt Lancaster Atlantic City Lou Pascal Dudley Moore Arthur Arthur Bach Paul Newman Absence of Malice Michael Colin Gallagher 1982(55th) Ben Kingsley Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Dustin Hoffman Tootsie Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels Jack Lemmon Missing Ed Horman Paul Newman The Verdict Frank Galvin Peter O'Toole My Favorite Year Alan Swann 1983(56th) Robert Duvall Tender Mercies Mac Sledge Michael Caine Educating Rita Dr. Frank Bryant Tom Conti Reuben, Reuben Gowan McGland Tom Courtenay The Dresser Norman Albert Finney The Dresser Sir 1984(57th) F. Murray Abraham Amadeus Antonio Salieri Jeff Bridges Starman Starman Albert Finney Under the Volcano Geoffrey Firmin Tom Hulce Amadeus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sam Waterston The Killing Fields Sydney Schanberg 1985(58th) William Hurt Kiss of the Spider Woman Luis Molina Harrison Ford Witness Detective Captain John Book James Garner Murphy's Romance Murphy Jones Jack Nicholson Prizzi's Honor Charley Partanna Jon Voight Runaway Train Oscar 'Manny' Manheim 1986(59th) Paul Newman The Color of Money Fast Eddie Felson Dexter Gordon Round Midnight Dale Turner Bob Hoskins Mona Lisa George William Hurt Children of a Lesser God James Leeds James Woods Salvador Richard Boyle 1987(60th) Michael Douglas Wall Street Gordon Gekko William Hurt Broadcast News Tom Grunick Marcello Mastroianni Dark Eyes Romano Jack Nicholson Ironweed Francis Phelan Robin Williams Good Morning, Vietnam Adrian Cronauer 1988(61st) Dustin Hoffman Rain Man Raymond Babbitt Gene Hackman Mississippi Burning Agent Rupert Anderson Tom Hanks Big Josh Baskin Edward James Olmos Stand and Deliver Jaime Escalante Max von Sydow Pelle the Conqueror Lassefar 1989(62nd) Daniel Day-Lewis My Left Foot Christy Brown Kenneth Branagh Henry V King Henry V of England Tom Cruise Born on the Fourth of July Ron Kovic Morgan Freeman Driving Miss Daisy Hoke Colburn Robin Williams Dead Poets Society John Keating

1990s
 Year Actor Movie Role 1990(63rd) Jeremy Irons Reversal of Fortune Claus von Bülow Kevin Costner Dances with Wolves Lieutenant John J. Dunbar Robert De Niro Awakenings Leonard Lowe Gérard Depardieu Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Richard Harris The Field 'Bull' McCabe 1991(64th) Anthony Hopkins The Silence of the Lambs Hannibal Lecter Warren Beatty Bugsy Bugsy Siegel Robert De Niro Cape Fear Max Cady Nick Nolte The Prince of Tides Tom Wingo Robin Williams The Fisher King Parry 1992(65th) Al Pacino Scent of a Woman Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade Robert Downey, Jr. Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Clint Eastwood Unforgiven William Munny Stephen Rea The Crying Game Fergus Denzel Washington Malcolm X Malcolm X 1993(66th) Tom Hanks Philadelphia Andrew Beckett Daniel Day-Lewis In the Name of the Father Gerry Conlon Laurence Fishburne What's Love Got to Do with It Ike Turner Anthony Hopkins The Remains of the Day James Stevens Liam Neeson Schindler's List Oskar Schindler 1994(67th) Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Forrest Gump Morgan Freeman The Shawshank Redemption Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding Nigel Hawthorne The Madness of King George King George III of the United Kingdom Paul Newman Nobody's Fool Donald "Sully" Sullivan John Travolta Pulp Fiction Vincent Vega 1995(68th) Nicolas Cage Leaving Las Vegas Ben Sanderson Richard Dreyfuss Mr. Holland's Opus Glenn Holland Anthony Hopkins Nixon Richard Nixon Sean Penn Dead Man Walking Matthew Poncelet Massimo Troisi (posthumous nomination) Il Postino Mario Ruoppolo 1996(69th) Geoffrey Rush Shine David Helfgott Tom Cruise Jerry Maguire Jerry Maguire Ralph Fiennes The English Patient Count Laszlo de Almásy Woody Harrelson The People vs. Larry Flynt Larry Flynt Billy Bob Thornton Sling Blade Karl Childers 1997(70th) Jack Nicholson As Good as It Gets Melvin Udall Matt Damon Good Will Hunting Will Hunting Robert Duvall The Apostle Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey — The Apostle E.F. Peter Fonda Ulee's Gold Ulee Jackson Dustin Hoffman Wag the Dog Stanley Motss 1998(71st) Roberto Benigni Life Is Beautiful Guido Orefice Tom Hanks Saving Private Ryan Captain John Miller Ian McKellen Gods and Monsters James Whale Nick Nolte Affliction Wade Whitehouse Edward Norton American History X Derek Vinyard 1999(72nd) Kevin Spacey American Beauty Lester Burnham Russell Crowe The Insider Jeffrey Wigand Richard Farnsworth The Straight Story Alvin Straight Sean Penn Sweet and Lowdown Emmet Ray Denzel Washington The Hurricane Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter

2000s
 Year Actor Movie Role(s) 2000(73rd) Russell Crowe Gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius Javier Bardem Before Night Falls Reinaldo Arenas Tom Hanks Cast Away Chuck Noland Ed Harris Pollock Jackson Pollock Geoffrey Rush Quills The Marquis de Sade 2001(74th) Denzel Washington Training Day Alonzo Harris Russell Crowe A Beautiful Mind John Nash Sean Penn I Am Sam Sam Dawson Will Smith Ali Muhammad Ali Tom Wilkinson In the Bedroom Dr. Matt Fowler 2002(75th) Adrien Brody The Pianist Władysław Szpilman Nicolas Cage Adaptation. Charlie KaufmanDonald Kaufman Michael Caine The Quiet American Thomas Fowler Daniel Day-Lewis Gangs of New York William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting Jack Nicholson About Schmidt Warren R. Schmidt 2003(76th) Sean Penn Mystic River Jimmy Markum Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Captain Jack Sparrow Ben Kingsley House of Sand and Fog Massoud Amir Behrani Jude Law Cold Mountain Inman Bill Murray Lost in Translation Bob Harris 2004(77th) Jamie Foxx Ray Ray Charles Don Cheadle Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina Johnny Depp Finding Neverland Sir J.M. Barrie Leonardo DiCaprio The Aviator Howard Hughes Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby Frankie Dunn 2005(78th) Philip Seymour Hoffman Capote Truman Capote Terrence Howard Hustle & Flow Djay Heath Ledger Brokeback Mountain Ennis Del Mar Joaquin Phoenix Walk the Line Johnny Cash David Strathairn Good Night, and Good Luck Edward R. Murrow 2006(79th) Forest Whitaker The Last King of Scotland Idi Amin Leonardo DiCaprio Blood Diamond Danny Archer Ryan Gosling Half Nelson Dan Dunne Peter O'Toole Venus Maurice Will Smith The Pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner 2007(80th) Daniel Day-Lewis There Will Be Blood Daniel Plainview George Clooney Michael Clayton Michael Clayton Johnny Depp Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Tommy Lee Jones In the Valley of Elah Hank Deerfield Viggo Mortensen Eastern Promises Nikolai Luzhin 2008(81st) Sean Penn Milk Harvey Milk Richard Jenkins The Visitor Walter Vale Frank Langella Frost/Nixon Richard Nixon Brad Pitt The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Benjamin Button Mickey Rourke The Wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson 2009(82nd) Jeff Bridges Crazy Heart Ottis 'Bad' Blake George Clooney Up in the Air Ryan Bingham Colin Firth A Single Man George Falconer Morgan Freeman Invictus Nelson Mandela Jeremy Renner The Hurt Locker SFC William James

2010s
 Year Actor Movie Role 2010(83rd) Colin Firth The King's Speech King George VI Javier Bardem Biutiful Uxbal Jeff Bridges True Grit Rooster Cogburn Jesse Eisenberg The Social Network Mark Zuckerberg James Franco 127 Hours Aron Ralston 2011(84th) Jean Dujardin The Artist George Valentin Demián Bichir A Better Life Carlos Galindo George Clooney The Descendants Matt King Gary Oldman Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy George Smiley Brad Pitt Moneyball Billy Beane 2012(85th) Daniel Day-Lewis Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Bradley Cooper Silver Linings Playbook Pat Hugh Jackman Les Misérables Jean Valjean Joaquin Phoenix The Master Freddie Quell Denzel Washington Flight  William „Whip“ Whitaker 2013(86th) Matthew McConaughey Dallas Buyers Club Ron Woodroof Christian Bale American Hustle Irving Rosenfeld Bruce Dern Nebraska Woodrow "Woody" T. Grant Leonardo DiCaprio The Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort Chiwetel Ejiofor 12 Years a Slave Solomon Northup 2014(87th) Eddie Redmayne The Theory of Everything Stephen Hawking Steve Carell Foxcatcher John du Point Bradley Cooper American Sniper Chris Kyle Benedict Cumberbatch The Imitation Game Alan Turing Michael Keaton Birdman Riggan Thomson 2015(88th) Leonardo DiCaprio The Revenant Hugh Glass Bryan Cranston Trumbo Dalton Trumbo Matt Damon The Martian Mark Watney Michael Fassbender Steve Jobs Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne The Danish Girl Lili Elbe 2016(89th) Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea Lee Chandler Andrew Garfield Hacksaw Ridge Desmond Doss Ryan Gosling La La Land Sebastian Wilber Viggo Mortensen Captain Fantastic Ben Cash Denzel Washington Fences Troy Maxson 2017(90th) Gary Oldman Darkest Hour Winston Churchill Timothée Chalamet Call Me by Your Name Elio Perlman Daniel Day-Lewis Phantom Thread Reynolds Woodcock Daniel Kaluuya Get Out Chris Washington Denzel Washington Roman J. Israel, Esq. Roman J. Israel 2018(91st) Rami Malek Bohemian Rhapsody Freddie Mercury Christian Bale Vice Dick Cheney Bradley Cooper A Star Is Born Jackson Maine Willem Dafoe At Eternity's Gate Vincent Van Gogh Viggo Mortensen Green Book Tony "Lip" Vallelonga 2019(92nd) Joaquin Phoenix Joker Arthur Fleck / Joker Antonio Banderas Pain and Glory Salvador Mallo Leonardo DiCaprio Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Rick Dalton Adam Driver Marriage Story Charlie Barber Jonathan Pryce The Two Popes Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio

2020s
 Year Actor Movie Role 2020(93rd) Anthony Hopkins The Father Anthony Riz Ahmed Sound of Metal Ruben Stone Chadwick Boseman (posthumous nomination) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Levee Green Gary Oldman Mank Herman J. Mankiewicz Steven Yeun Minari Jacob Yi 2021(94th) Will Smith King Richard Richard Williams Javier Bardem Being the Ricardos Desi Arnaz Benedict Cumberbatch The Power of the Dog Phil Burbank Andrew Garfield Tick, Tick... Boom! Jonathan Larson Denzel Washington The Tragedy of Macbeth Lord Macbeth 2022(95th) Brendan Fraser Charlie The Whale Austin Butler Elvis Presley Elvis Colin Farrell Pádraic Súilleabháin The Banshees of Inisherin Paul Mescal Calum Paterson Aftersun Bill Nighy Rodney Williams Living 2023(96th) Bradley Cooper Leonard Bernstein Maestro Colman Domingo Bayard Rustin Rustin Paul Giamatti Paul Hunham The Holdovers Cillian Murphy J. Robert Oppenheimer Oppenheimer Jeffrey Wright Thelonious "Monk" Ellison American Fiction

Related pages
BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Other websites
 Oscars.org (official Academy site)

Actor