10 Overlooked Oscar Legends: Time for Academy Redemption!

Strive to acknowledge the finest and most captivating films yearly. Some timeless cinematic masterpieces like “The Godfather, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Lawrence of Arabia, The Sound of Music, Schindler’s List, and others have been bestowed with Hollywood’s highest accolade. Moreover, the Oscars serve as a powerful platform to showcase the artistry of legendary actors. Securing an Oscar can propel an actor into stardom and etch their performance in the annals of cinema history.

Occasionally, some of the highly esteemed actors in Hollywood’s film industry find themselves nominated by the Academy only once, and afterwards, they don’t receive any further recognition. This leaves their admirers puzzled as to why these illustrious figures haven’t earned more Oscar nods throughout their careers.

Prior to the most recent Oscars ceremony, Isabella Rosselini, renowned for her role in “Blue Velvet”, had not received a nomination. A symbol of Italian cinema for many years, Rossellini’s talent was yet unrecognized by the Academy despite her frequent collaborations with esteemed directors like Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, and acting alongside performances that were Oscar-nominated in films such as “Joy” and “Fearless”. However, it wasn’t until 2025 that Rossellini herself finally received a nomination.

Isabella Rossellini’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleSister Agnes in Conclave (2024)
CategoryBest Supporting Actress
ResultLost to Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez (2024)

Rossellini gained her initial nomination for her compelling performance as Sister Agnes in Conclave, even though her character spoke minimally. Her strong and impactful delivery of lines was captivating. Although she did not win Best Supporting Actress that year, going to Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez, Rossellini has many more impressive performances ahead, so we hope to see her receiving more Academy accolades in the future.

Legendary actress Lauren Bacall has been a dominating force in cinema since the 1940s, gracing many timeless films like “The Big Sleep,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” “To Have and Have Not,” and even “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Yet, despite her impressive filmography, Lauren Bacall was only ever nominated for an Academy Award once, in 1997 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Lauren Bacall’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleHannah Morgan in The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
CategoryBest Supporting Actress
ResultLost to Juliette Binoche for The English Patient (1996)

Following her victories at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for “The Mirror Has Two Faces”, Bacall was predicted to win the Academy Award as well. However, this expectation was shattered when newcomer Juliette Binoche claimed the award instead, causing quite a surprise. Sadly, Bacall passed away in 2014; however, she received an Honorary Award from the Academy in 2010 to acknowledge her impressive career and as a way of apologizing for not nominating more of her work earlier on.

Liam Neeson gained recognition for his powerful portrayal of Oskar Schindler in the movie “Schindler’s List,” which subsequently led him to demonstrate his versatility across various film genres, including “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” “Love Actually,” “Batman Begins,” and the “Taken” series.

Liam Neeson’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar Nominated RoleOskar Schindler in Schindler’s List (1993)
CategoryBest Actor
ResultLost to Tom Hanks for Philadelphia (1993)

Although Liam Neeson has been nominated for Golden Globes on several occasions, most notably for “Kinsey” and “Michael Collins”, it’s been since “Schindler’s List” that the Academy has honored him with a nomination. Given his current focus on action roles and the enthusiasm they generate among fans, it appears a repeat Academy nod may not be imminent for Neeson. The Academy tends to overlook some of his earlier, more dramatic work.

Laurence Fishburne’s acting skills were recognized only once with an Oscar nomination, which he received for his role as Ike Turner in the movie “What’s Love Got to Do With It” alongside Angela Bassett portraying Tina Turner, back in 1994. Surprisingly, despite this impressive performance, Fishburne hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since then.

Laurence Fishburne’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleIke Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993)
CategoryBest Actor
ResultLost to Tom Hanks for Philadelphia (1993)

In a different phrasing, it could be stated like this: Unquestionably, Morpheus is his most iconic character, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, in the Matrix trilogy. Although the first Matrix film earned all its Oscar nominations, Fishburne was not awarded Best Supporting Actor. With the Academy showing increased recognition for outstanding sci-fi films like Get Out, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Poor Things, and The Substance more recently, it’s possible that Fishburne might have been nominated had The Matrix been released in today’s time.

Eva Marie Saint’s film career lasted an impressive 60 years, starting with her debut role in a movie back in 1954. Notably, she won the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Edie Doyle, which was her only nomination. Following her groundbreaking performance in “On the Waterfront,” Saint went on to star in films such as “North by Northwest,” “Exodus,” and “The Russians Are Coming The Russians are Coming,” among many other cinematic classics.

Eva Marie Saint’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleEdie Doyle in On the Waterfront (1954)
CategoryBest Supporting Actress
ResultWon

At one hundred years old, I find myself peacefully retired, with an Oscar gracefully adorning my fireplace and a career that leaves fellow actors yearning for such success. Yet, it remains peculiar to me how the Academy seems to have overlooked my remarkable debut after all these years of exceptional performances.

Lily Tomlin has been captivating moviegoers since her debut in the 1976 film “Nashville,” directed by the legendary Robert Altman. Similar to Eva Marie Saint, Tomlin garnered recognition from the Oscars for her initial leading role in a significant motion picture with a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Lily Tomlin’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleLinnea Reese in Nashville (1975)
CategoryBest Supporting Actress
ResultLost to Lee Grant for Shampoo (1975)

Despite her success in films like “9 to 5,” “Short Cuts,” “Grandma,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and more, Tomlin has yet to secure an Oscar win following her work in “Nashville.” Nevertheless, she’s had a stellar career with numerous Emmy, Grammy, and Tony awards, so it seems unlikely that she’s overly disappointed.

In a groundbreaking move, Rita Moreno earned the distinction as the first Puerto Rican actress to receive an Academy Award for her role as Anita. Since then, she has ascended to legendary status in Hollywood, gracing the screen in iconic productions such as “The King and I,” “The Ritz,” and even the “Fast and Furious” series.

Rita Moreno’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleAnita in West Side Story (1961)
CategoryBest Supporting Actress
ResultWon

In a later turn of events, Moreno re-entered the realm of “West Side Story” for Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake, portraying Valentina this time. Notably, Ariana DeBose was awarded an Academy Award for her portrayal of Anita in this contemporary adaptation – a role that Moreno had won an Oscar for 60 years prior. DeBose’s Academy Award serves as a testament to the high standard set by Moreno’s performance decades ago, thereby reinforcing the lasting impact and impressive stature of Moreno’s acting legacy, despite her having only been nominated once for an Academy Award.

Samuel L. Jackson is a consistent star within contemporary filmmaking. His exceptional performance, which garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1995, marked him as Quentin Tarantino’s principal inspiration. Furthermore, he has graced numerous popular franchises, such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Samuel L. Jackson’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleJules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction (1994)
CategoryBest Supporting Actor
ResultLost to Tommy Lee Jones for The Fugitive (1993)

In spite of Samuel L. Jackson delivering numerous compelling performances since Pulp Fiction, he hasn’t been nominated for a second Oscar. His roles in Jackie Brown, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight are all deserving of greater acclaim. Notably, his performance in the film adaptation of The Piano Lesson, which earned him a Tony nomination on Broadway, also deserves recognition. Jackson was honored with an honorary Oscar in 2022, but there’s hope that this legendary actor will one day receive a competitive nomination for another outstanding performance.

There’s no denying that Harrison Ford is among the finest actors Hollywood has ever seen, bringing unforgettable characters like Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Rick Deckard to life. Remarkably, despite such an illustrious career, his single Best Actor nomination for Witness in 1985 remains his only recognition in this category.

Harrison Ford’s Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleJohn Book in Witness (1985)
CategoryBest Actor
ResultLost to William Hurt for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)

Ford has frequently been on the brink of a second Academy Award nomination, garnering Golden Globe recognition for films like “The Mosquito Coast,” “The Fugitive,” and “Sabrina.” Additionally, both “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Working Girl” have received Best Picture nods. Despite Ford having presented the Best Picture award at the Oscars multiple times, it appears that another nomination may not be in the cards for this iconic actor at this stage in his career.

Known for his powerful voice and captivating presence, Jones is often recognized as one of the greatest film actors in history. Yet, similar to his “Star Wars” co-star Harrison Ford, Jones was only nominated once for an Oscar, which was for his performance in the 1971 movie “The Great White Hope.

James Earl Jones’ Oscar Nomination
Oscar-Nominated RoleJack Jefferson in The Great White Hope (1970)
CategoryBest Actor
ResultLost to George C. Scott for Patton (1970)

Jones has a long list of movies he’s worked on, such as ‘The Lion King,’ ‘Field of Dreams,’ and notably, ‘Star Wars,’ where his portrayal of Darth Vader left an indelible mark as one of the scariest villains ever on screen. It’s surprising that the Academy only nominated him once for an award. However, they honored him with a special Oscar in 2012, which means he achieved the prestigious EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards). Regrettably, Jones passed away last year, but his remarkable collection of work continues to motivate us, making that additional Oscar nomination less significant.

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2025-04-27 05:01

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