15 Oscar-Nominated Actors Who’ve Never Won

15. Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey has never been nominated for an Oscar, even with acclaimed roles in The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He’s won two Golden Globes, but the Academy has always overlooked him. | © 20th Century Studios

14. Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has four Supporting Actor nominations – The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher, Spotlight, and Poor Things – but no wins so far. He now shares the record for most nominations in that category, yet still hasn’t had his Oscar moment. | © Focus Features

13. Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels has never been nominated for an Oscar, despite a long and respected career. He’s earned multiple Golden Globe nods and won two Emmys, but the Academy has yet to recognize him. | © New Line Cinema

12. Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton finally landed his first Oscar nomination for Birdman, but lost Best Actor to Eddie Redmayne. Even though Birdman and Spotlight both won Best Picture, Keaton himself is still without an Oscar. | © FilmNation Entertainment

11. Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams has earned five Oscar nominations, three for Lead, two for Support, but hasn't landed a win yet. From Brokeback Mountain to The Fabelmans, she’s consistently in the conversation, just never the final pick. | © A24

10. Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan has been nominated four times, starting at age 13 for Atonement, then later for Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women. Despite the impressive streak (and all Best Picture-nominated films), she’s still waiting on her first win. | © StudioCanal

9. Bill Murray

Bill Murray has just one Oscar nomination for Lost in Translation, but missed out when the award went to Sean Penn. It’s still one of his most acclaimed and quietly powerful performances. | © The Weinstein Company

8. Ian McKellen

Despite two nominations for Gods and Monsters and The Fellowship of the Ring, Ian McKellen has never won an Oscar. It’s a surprising gap for one of the most respected actors of his generation. | © Entertainment One

7. Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper has racked up five acting nominations and seven more for producing and writing, yet still hasn’t won an Oscar. From Silver Linings Playbook to Maestro, he keeps showing up, but always leaves empty-handed. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

6. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has only been nominated once, for Pulp Fiction, and lost to Martin Landau. He finally got an Honorary Oscar in 2022, but he's still waiting for a win tied to a specific role. | © Netflix

5. Amy Adams

Amy Adams has six Oscar nominations, five in Support and one for Lead, but still no luck with a win. From Junebug to Vice, she’s delivered powerhouse performances, yet always found herself edged out by another big name. | © Netflix

4. Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe has been nominated four times, three for Support (Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire, The Florida Project) and once for Lead (At Eternity's Gate) – but the Oscar has always slipped away. With over 150 roles under his belt, it's hard to believe he's still waiting for one. | © Marvel Studios

3. Edward Norton

Edward Norton has three past nominations, for Primal Fear, American History X, and Birdman, but has never won, despite standout performances. In 2025, he’s back in the race with a fourth nod for A Complete Unknown, and this could finally be his moment. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

2. Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp has three Best Actor nominations, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland, and Sweeney Todd, but no Oscar wins. Each time, he lost to tough competition like Sean Penn, Jamie Foxx, and Daniel Day-Lewis. | © Walt Disney Pictures

1. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has three acting nominations under his belt, for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia, but has never taken home the Oscar. Even his recent Best Picture nod for Top Gun: Maverick wasn’t enough to break the streak. | © Paramount Pictures