Talented actors with multiple Oscars nominations but no wins

Often compared to Meryl Streep and even considered by some to be a better actor, cinephiles and pop culture enthusiasts alike are shocked that Glenn Close still doesn’t have an Oscar. The Fatal Attraction actor has been nominated a whopping eight times. Though it isn’t nearly as many as Streep, it’s still enough to make people wonder how she’s had so many outstanding performances without taking home the statue herself.

If you’re a fan of Laura Linney, you're always rooting for her to win an award. The actor has proved her range time and time again, and despite having three Oscar nominations under her belt, she doesn't have an Academy Award of her own. She does have four Emmy Awards, however.

Scarlett Johansson is perhaps best known for her roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she also has a pair of Oscar nominations. She’s among the few to have been nominated for two Oscars twice in the same year. Johansson was recognized for her work in Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story in 2020, albeit in different categories. Despite being nominated twice in the same year, the odds were not in her favor.

There were several people waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio to win his Oscar when he finally won for his work in The Revenant, and we have a feeling history will repeat itself the next time Bradley Cooper is nominated. The American Sniper actor has been nominated nine times and has even performed on the Oscars stage, but he hasn't taken home the award yet. 

Many people may also be surprised to learn that Johnny Depp has been nominated for multiple Oscars without winning. The character actor was first nominated for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Depp's career picked back up after his contentious and highly publicized defamation lawsuit with ex-wife Amber Heard, so he may have the chance to be nominated again for the award in the future.

Mark Ruffalo is another one of the finest actors of our generation who has yet to receive an Oscar award. Ruffalo has been nominated thrice for his work. Ruffalo does have some awards to display at home, though, as he’s been honored with an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. 

John Travolta earned his first Oscar nomination for his work in the musical Saturday Night Fever. Though his work was critically acclaimed, he came up short that night. The soundtrack for the movie, however, won several awards, including six Grammys, and remains one of the most acclaimed soundtracks movie soundtracks of all time. Travolta was nominated for an Oscar a second time for his work in Pulp Fiction, but he did not win the award.

Saoirse Ronan continues to wow audiences and critics alike with her stunning performances and dramatic films like Little Women and Lady Bird. Despite being nominated four times, the Irish actor has yet to win the award. Unlike others who have been awarded multiple times and never won, Ronan still has a long career ahead of her due to her age, so she has plenty of time left to bring home some hardware.

Though some of Amy Adams‘ most iconic roles, like Ella Enchanted, are ones for which she was not nominated for an Oscar, she has been nominated six separate times. Some of her acclaimed roles include her work in American Hustle and Vice , both of which were also nominated for Oscars in other categories. Adams has lost the award to actors like Anne Hathaway and Regina King.

Michelle Williams is no stranger to Oscar nominations. The actor has been nominated five times for roles in films such as Brokeback Mountain and The Fabelmans , but she’s never won. She's lost out to Viola Davis and Natalie Portman, among others. 

Ryan Gosling has two different Oscar nominations but, unfortunately, no wins. Gosling was first nominated in 2007 for his role as Dan Dunne in Half Nelson, and he was nominated again for his role as Sebastian in La La Land. Though Gosling didn’t win for his work in La La Land, his costar Emma Stone won her first Oscar for her work in the film. 

Angela Bassett received her first Oscar nomination in 1994 for What's Love Got to Do with It. It wasn’t until 2022 that she received her second nomination for her work in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Despite her stunning performance in the film, her most memorable moment from that award season was Ariana DeBose singing "Angela Bassett did the thing."

Though Tom Cruise is best known for his roles in films like Mission Impossible and Top Gun, he has had plenty of more serious roles, and four of them have earned him Oscar nominations. He’s been nominated for his work in the movies Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia, and Top Gun: Maverick, but he has never taken home the award. 

Woody Harrelson can do it all — comedy, drama, period pieces. He’s a multi-talented actor, and he’s got the rap sheet to prove it. Unfortunately, he’s never taken home Hollywood’s biggest award. He does, however, have an Emmy under his belt, and he’s been nominated for several other awards from various Hollywood groups. 

There was a period of time in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s when the Academy couldn’t help but recognize Ed Harris for his work. In a matter of eight years, the actor, known for roles in films like The Truman Show and Apollo 13, was nominated for four Oscars. Harris didn’t ever win, and he hasn’t been nominated again. 

Nick Nolte’s career spans decades, as do his Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, nominations are where it ends with Nolte’s relationship with the Academy. The talented actor has been nominated three times, most recently in 2012, for the film Warrior. 

Everyone has an actor or two that they know they’ve seen before but just can’t place. For some, that actor might be Edward Norton. Despite his immense talent, Norton flies under the radar, especially regarding awards. Norton has three Academy Award nominations under his belt but no wins yet. 

Michelle Pfeiffer garnered her first Oscar nomination in 1989 for her work in Dangerous Liaisons. She was nominated again the following year for her work in The Fabulous Baker Boys and in 1993 for Love Field. Pfeiffer has yet to be nominated a fourth time and to win at all. 

Sigourney Weaver has been in movies of all genres throughout multiple decades. She’s been nominated for various awards and has won several, but she’s come up short in the ceremonies that the public seems to put the most weight on. Weaver’s been nominated for three Oscars without winning, and she’s been nominated for four Emmys without winning. 

Joan Cusack has had roles in some of the most iconic films of the past 30 years. She’s got natural comedic timing, and she’s proved it repeatedly. Cusack was nominated for an Oscar in 1989 and 1998, both for comedic roles. Though she didn’t win either time, Cusack does have an Emmy for her work in the series Shameless.