…But No Cigar
In the world of film, there are few honors more coveted than the Academy Award. Winning an Oscar can cement an actor's legacy—but what about those who came close time and time again, yet never took home the golden statue?
This list pays homage to the most-nominated actors and actresses in Oscar history who somehow never won, despite stunning performances, iconic roles, and decades-long careers.
Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan is just getting started, but she's already building a heartbreakingly Oscar-less resume. With four nominations by the age of 25, she’s earned nods for Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women. She’s practically the Meryl Streep of her generation—minus the hardware.
Saoirse Ronan's Oscar Nominated Performance | Atonement (2007) | Screen Bites, Screen Bites
Ed Harris
Ed Harris is the classic “always the bridesmaid” of serious cinema. With four Oscar nods for roles in Apollo 13, The Truman Show, Pollock, and The Hours, he's consistently been the strong, steady heartbeat of every film he's in. Harris is the actor directors dream of—and Oscar voters keep dreaming about.
Apollo 13 (1995) - Failure Is Not an Option Scene (6/11) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty may have eight acting-related Oscar nominations, but he’s never won for his performances. (He does have a directing Oscar for Reds, so there’s that). Still, it's wild that a man who gave us Bonnie and Clyde, Heaven Can Wait, and Bugsy never nabbed Best Actor. The Academy may have been too distracted by his Hollywood mystique.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - What's It Like? Scene (2/9) | Movieclips, Movieclips
Marsha Mason
Marsha Mason was a dominant presence in 1970s cinema, landing four Best Actress nominations in less than a decade. Her performances in films like The Goodbye Girl and Chapter Two showcased vulnerability, charm, and grit. She had Neil Simon writing roles tailored for her brilliance—and yet the Academy just couldn’t commit.
The Goodbye Girl (1977) Original Trailer [FHD], HD Retro Trailers
Claude Rains
A master of the supporting role, Claude Rains was nominated four times between the 1940s and 1950s, for classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Casablanca. He made suave cynicism an art form—and gave us one of the most quoted movie lines of all time (“Round up the usual suspects”). But an Oscar? Never materialized.
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON: FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE FILM, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Montgomery Clift
Montgomery Clift was once considered the most beautiful man in Hollywood—and also one of its most gifted actors. He received four nominations, most famously for A Place in the Sun and From Here to Eternity. Clift brought a brooding intensity and modern emotional realism that predated Brando—and arguably paved the way for method acting onscreen.
From Here to Eternity (1953) Trailer #1, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer oozed continental charm and sophistication. Nominated four times between 1938 and 1961, he became synonymous with romantic drama and dramatic romance. Even when his films didn't age well (ahem, Gaslight), his performances did. The man could turn a stare into a soliloquy. Too bad Oscar was unmoved.
Albert Finney
Albert Finney was the kind of actor who never played it safe. From Tom Jones to The Dresser to Erin Brockovich, he earned five nominations and zero wins.He even declined a knighthood, which tells you how little he cared for pomp. But still… a gold statue would’ve looked great on his shelf.
Clip from Tom Jones (1963, sub ENG), dovic
Arthur Kennedy
Arthur Kennedy was nominated five times across a range of dramas throughout the ’40s and ’50s. A true character actor, Kennedy was the kind of performer who made every lead shine brighter. He brought layers to roles that could’ve easily been cardboard—yet Oscar voters never quite gave him the standing ovation he deserved.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper’s evolution from The Hangover bro to eight-time Oscar nominee is no small feat. He’s been nominated for acting in Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper, American Hustle, and Maestro—yet remains un-won. Add in producing and writing nods, and Cooper’s become something of an Oscar magnet… that repels wins.
Deborah Kerr
With six nominations and no wins, Deborah Kerr was once the record-holder for most losses without a victory. Films like From Here to Eternity and The King and I made her a symbol of elegance, passion, and quiet rebellion. Eventually, the Academy gave her an honorary Oscar. Translation: “Sorry we forgot to vote for you for 30 years.”
Eternally Iconic Scenes From Here To Eternity | Love Love, Love Love
Richard Burton
With seven acting nominations and no wins, Richard Burton may be the patron saint of Oscar snubs. He brought gravitas to roles in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Becket, and Equus, and his Shakespearean pedigree was unmatched. Unfortunately, so were his losing streaks.
Peter O’Toole
Peter O’Toole holds the record for most Oscar nominations without a win—eight, to be precise. From his legendary turn in Lawrence of Arabia to later gems like My Favorite Year, he remained electric across decades. He finally accepted an honorary Oscar in 2003, saying: “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot!” Indeed.
The Best Of Peter O'Toole As Lawrence Of Arabia | Silver Scenes, Silver Scenes
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is the modern queen of Oscar snubs, with eight acting nominations and still no win. From Fatal Attraction to Dangerous Liaisons to The Wife, she’s delivered powerhouse performances again and again. Every time she's nominated, people assume this will be it. But alas, she continues to be one of Hollywood’s most prestigious “never-have-I-ever”s.
'Fatal Attraction' Reunion ft. Michael Douglas and Glenn Close | PEOPLE, People
Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter made sarcasm an art form. A six-time nominee, she excelled in supporting roles in classics like All About Eve, Pillow Talk, and Rear Window. Ritter was the wisecracking sidekick before it was cool—and before the Academy thought such roles were Oscar-worthy. She was often the best part of any film she appeared in.
All About Eve (1950) Best Scene, Lucas Fernandes
Amy Adams
Amy Adams has quietly amassed six Oscar nominations without a win—and let’s face it, it’s starting to get weird. From her disarming sweetness in Junebug to her calculated cool in American Hustle and Vice, she can do it all. She’s basically this generation’s Julianne Moore—let’s hope the Academy catches up before 2030.
Amy Adams & Bradley Cooper Scene | American Hustle, NOW PLAYING
Annette Bening
Annette Bening has been nominated four times, and each time, it felt like she was this close. Films like American Beauty, Being Julia, and The Kids Are All Right highlight her range, intelligence, and gravitas. But her greatest feat? Thriving in a Hollywood that often sidelines older women—while never begging for a win.
American Beauty (1/10) Movie CLIP - Carolyn's Private Meltdown (1999) HD, Movieclips
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne had five nominations back in Hollywood’s Golden Age, with films like The Awful Truth and Love Affair. She was as funny as she was heartbreaking—and often both in the same scene. Critics used to call her “the best actress never to win an Oscar”—and for a while, they were absolutely right.
Clip Love Affair (1939) Starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer in the move, Film Historian
Agnes Moorehead
You may know her as Endora from Bewitched, but Agnes Moorehead was an Oscar-nominated powerhouse long before her TV fame. With four nominations for supporting roles in the ’40s and ’50s, she proved that eccentricity and depth aren’t mutually exclusive. She was ahead of her time—maybe too ahead for the Academy.
Best of Endora's Magic | Bewitched, Bewitched
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was the tough dame of classic Hollywood, earning four nominations for roles like Stella Dallas and Double Indemnity. She could play a schemer, a mother, or a femme fatale with equal flair. The Academy finally gave her an honorary Oscar in 1982, but it felt like too little, too late.
Open | Stella Dallas | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics
Rosalind Russell
Last but not least, Rosalind Russell—queen of screwball comedy and fiery drama alike. She had four Oscar nominations and won five Golden Globes, but the Academy never pulled the trigger. In roles like Auntie Mame and His Girl Friday, she was a trailblazer for whip-smart women who ran circles around their male co-stars. The real award? Her legacy.
AUNTIE MAME (1958) Clip - Rosalind Russell, Dreams Are What Le Cinema Is For
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