15 Hollywood Legends Who Never Won an Oscar (But Should Have)

15 Hollywood Legends Who Never Won an Oscar (But Should Have)

The Academy Awards celebrate the best performances in film history, but sometimes even the most talented actors get overlooked. Many Hollywood legends have delivered unforgettable performances yet never took home the golden statue. These actors have shaped cinema with their incredible skills, iconic roles, and dedication to their craft, making their lack of an Oscar win truly surprising.

1. Glenn Close

Few actors embody quiet ferocity quite like her. Over a career spanning five decades, she’s mastered both villainy and vulnerability with uncanny precision. From the chilling Fatal Attraction to the refined cunning of Dangerous Liaisons, her range is unmatched. Despite eight Oscar nominations, the statuette has eluded her every time. Each loss has only solidified her reputation as the Academy’s greatest oversight. She carries every frame she’s in with dignity and emotional intelligence. If grace under pressure ever deserved an award, she’d have a shelf full by now.

2. Peter O’Toole

A commanding screen presence defined by piercing blue eyes and regal poise, his performances remain textbook examples of classical acting. He burst into global fame with Lawrence of Arabia, redefining epic storytelling. Over the years, he earned eight nominations but somehow went home empty-handed each time. His work in The Lion in Winter and Becket remains some of cinema’s finest. The Academy eventually offered him an honorary Oscar, a bittersweet gesture. Charismatic, rebellious, and unapologetically theatrical, he was Hollywood royalty without the crown. Even without the win, his legacy burns brighter than gold.

3. Harrison Ford

He made audiences believe in heroes again. As Han Solo and Indiana Jones, he built two of the most beloved franchises in history — yet he’s only been nominated once. Beyond blockbusters, his grounded performances in Witness and The Fugitive proved his depth. He brings authenticity to every role, balancing rugged charm with moral weight. Despite shaping pop culture, critical accolades never fully followed. Ford remains Hollywood’s quintessential everyman adventurer. For someone who’s saved galaxies and artifacts, the real treasure he’s missing is an Oscar.

4. Tom Cruise

Decades of superstardom haven’t dimmed his hunger for perfection. Known for doing his own stunts, he’s as daring emotionally as he is physically. His work in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia displayed layers beyond the action hero persona. Three nominations later, the golden statue remains elusive. Cruise has redefined longevity in modern cinema, adapting with every generation. His relentless drive mirrors his characters’ obsessions — always chasing, never quite catching. If dedication were the metric, he’d already have a lifetime’s worth of Oscars.

5. Johnny Depp

Eccentricity is his art form. From Edward Scissorhands’ shy tenderness to Jack Sparrow’s chaotic wit, his characters blur the line between genius and madness. Each performance feels like a brushstroke from a fearless painter. Despite multiple nominations, the Academy has never rewarded his creative risk-taking. His career stands as proof that acting can be both performance and poetry. For decades, he’s built worlds through sheer imagination. Love him or not, few actors have made weirdness this magnetic.

6. Samuel L. Jackson

From Pulp Fiction to Django Unchained, he’s delivered some of the most quotable lines in film history. His range stretches from comedy to tragedy with effortless swagger. Though he’s one of the most recognizable actors alive, he’s shockingly received only one nomination. The Academy later gave him an honorary Oscar — a nod that still felt overdue. Jackson redefined what it means to command the screen without compromise. In the story of modern cinema, he’s the narrator everyone remembers.

7. Edward Norton

He exploded onto the scene with Primal Fear, instantly proving he was no ordinary newcomer. Each subsequent role, from American History X to Birdman, revealed his intellectual and emotional rigor. Three nominations later, the statuette still evades him. Known for his perfectionism, he often elevates every film he joins. Behind the camera or in front of it, he chases authenticity with relentless focus. Norton remains a critic’s favorite and an actor’s actor — the kind the Academy often underestimates.

8. Ralph Fiennes

Elegance and menace coexist effortlessly in his performances. He brought haunting depth to Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List and quiet romance to The English Patient. His precision and restraint make his villains disturbingly human. Two nominations weren’t nearly enough recognition for the emotional complexity he delivers. Fiennes consistently disappears into roles with Shakespearean mastery. Whether commanding or broken, he plays men torn between duty and desire. The Oscar may be missing, but artistic immortality is already his.

9. Michelle Pfeiffer

Effortless glamour meets genuine gravitas whenever she’s on screen. She’s played everything from lounge singer to supervillain with intoxicating allure. Performances in The Fabulous Baker Boys and Dangerous Liaisons revealed a rare blend of strength and fragility. Despite three nominations, she’s never taken home the trophy. Each comeback reminds audiences why she’s a legend, not just a star. Her presence alone can elevate even the simplest scene. Few actresses make elegance feel so human.

10. Sigourney Weaver

Science fiction owes her everything. As Ripley in Alien, she shattered gender barriers and redefined what a hero could look like. She’s balanced toughness with warmth in roles like Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl. Three nominations highlight a career that’s both groundbreaking and versatile. She never needed an Oscar to validate her influence. Weaver’s legacy lies in the generations of women she inspired to lead fearlessly. If courage were a category, she’d have won decades ago.

11. Willem Dafoe

Whether playing saints, villains, or misfits, he commits with total abandon. His work in Platoon, The Florida Project, and At Eternity’s Gate reveals a soul unafraid of contradiction. Four nominations prove the industry’s respect, yet not its reward. Dafoe’s face tells stories words never could. He thrives in discomfort, finding beauty in the broken. The Academy may hesitate, but audiences already know they’re watching greatness.

12. Annette Bening

From American Beauty to The Kids Are All Right, she brings sharp emotional insight to her roles. Despite five nominations, she’s long been overshadowed by timing or trend. Her command of tone and nuance makes even silence compelling. She’s an actress of elegance rather than excess. Each role feels like a masterclass in restraint and empathy. Awards come and go, but craftsmanship like hers endures.

13. Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal earned his only Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain, though many believe he deserved recognition for Nightcrawler. His transformation into a gaunt, sociopathic freelance cameraman in Nightcrawler was genuinely disturbing. Gyllenhaal lost significant weight and created unsettling mannerisms that made the character unforgettable. He’s unafraid to take on challenging, uncomfortable roles that push boundaries. From a troubled teenager in Donnie Darko to a obsessed detective in Prisoners, Gyllenhaal commits fully.

14. Amy Adams

Amy Adams has received six Oscar nominations for films including American Hustle, Arrival, and Vice, yet hasn’t won. Her ability to transform completely for each role makes her one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses. Adams played a linguist communicating with aliens in Arrival with quiet intelligence and emotional depth. She gained weight and changed her voice to become Lynne Cheney in Vice, disappearing into the role. Adams moves seamlessly between musicals, dramas, and science fiction.

15. Jim Carrey

Known for rubber-faced hilarity in The Mask and Ace Ventura, he later stunned critics with dramatic turns in The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both roles earned Golden Globes but no Oscar nods. His blend of emotional rawness and physical comedy is uniquely his own. Carrey redefined what “serious acting” could look like — just under the surface of laughter. Despite being one of the most versatile performers of his era, he’s never even been nominated. If artistic courage were the metric, he’d have taken home multiple statues by now.