Oscars - Best Actor Trivia

1. Jack Nicholson has brought some amazing characters to life, but they weren't always recognized by the Academy. Which one of Jack's roles did Oscar voters overlook?

From Quiz Notable Oscar Snubs: Current Actors

Answer: Jack Torrance, "The Shining" (1980)

"All Work and No Play" means no Academy Award nomination for Nicholson despite one of the greatest displays of psychotic possession ever put on film. "The Shining" received not a single Academy Award nomination. Shelley Duvall and Stanley Kubrick were actually nominated for Golden Raspberries. Nicholson was nominated for playing cynical private investigator Jake Gittes in "Chinatown" (1974), hitman Charley Partanna in "Prizzi's Honor" (1985) and world weary retiree Warren Schmidt in "About Schmidt" (2002). Nicholson won his Best Acting Oscars for playing maverick mental patient Randall McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" (1975) and wonderfully cynical novelist Melvin Udall in "As Good as it Gets" (1997). He won his second Oscar, a Supporting award, for playing astronaut Garrett Breedlove in "Terms of Endearment" (1983). Nicholson received his first nomination for playing George Hanson in the quintessential biker film "Easy Rider" (1969). Other notable performances by Nicholson appear in "Five Easy Pieces" (1970), "The Last Detail" (1973) and "Reds" (1981). And who can forget his "You can't handle the truth!" speech from "A Few Good Men" (1992). His role as Colonel Nathan Jessup got him another Supporting Actor nod.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Ben Kingsley

Now it is almost unimaginable that anybody other than Ben Kingsley could have played Mohandas Gandhi. Kingsley's family even came from the same part of India as Gandhi. But over the course of the almost 20 years it took him to finally complete "Gandhi" (1982), Sir Richard Attenborough had a variety of ideas for the leading role. He offered the role to both Tom Courtney and John Hurt. Both brilliant actors, but not Indian. Alec Guinness and Anthony Hopkins were also considered for the role, and Dustin Hoffman expressed interest in playing Gandhi.

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: The Hurricane

"The Hurricane" was based on Ruben Carter's book "The 16th Round" where he told the story of his lengthy imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: James Stewart

Stewart won for his role in the classic 'The Philadelphia Story' in 1940. Incidentally, Stewart Granger's real name is James Stewart. He had to change it to avoid confusion.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Clark Gable

Gable starred opposite socialite Claudette Colbert in 'It Happened One Night' in 1934.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Michael Douglas

"Greed is Good. Greed Works." Michael Douglas perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s as inside trader Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street." But he was not director Oliver Stone's first choice. James Woods was offered the part of Gekko, but turned it down to do "Cop" (1988). Other films which could have starred Woods include "Batman" (1990), "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), where Quentin Tarantino wanted him for Mr. Orange, and "Star Wars" (1977). Woods auditioned for Han Solo. Other actors who took a pass on Gordon Gekko include Warren Beatty, Richard Gere and Jack Nicholson. In Jack's case, he was busy with "Witches of Eastwick" (1987) and "Ironweed" (1987).

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Dead Man Walking

Penn was wonderful in his chilling role as a murderer who attempts to make peace with his life before his execution, with the help of Sister Helen Prejean, played by Susan Sarandon.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: Emil Jannings

A German actor, Jannings holds the distinction of being not only the first Oscar winner as Best Actor, he also won it on the basis of two films, his role as Schilling in 'The Way Of All Flesh' and in 'The Last Command' in 1928. Sadly, there is no known copy of the original 'Flesh', but a remake with Tamiroff was made in 1940.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Gary Cooper

Cooper won the award for 'Sergeant York', based on the life of Medal of Honor recipient Alvin York, in 1941.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Anthony Hopkins

"I ate his liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti." Given the genius of Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance as Hannibal Lecter, it is hard to imagine someone else as the deranged doctor. But he was far from the first choice. Sean Connery was director Jonathan Demme's first choice to play Lecter, but the actor turned it down because he considered the role "disgusting". Gene Hackman had actually bought the rights to the book and considered starring in the film in the 1980s. An incredible range of actors were considered to play Lecter, including Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Christopher Lloyd and Patrick Stewart.

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Morgan Freeman & Freeman

Morgan Freeman lost the Best Actor award that year to Tom Hanks for his role as Forrest Gump.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis 'Bing' Crosby won the 1944 Best Actor Award for 'Going My Way', opposite Frawley and Fitzgerald. Also in the film is former 'Our Gang' star Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzler.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Lee Marvin

Marvin won the Oscar for the comic western 'Cat Ballou' in 1965.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks won his first Academy Award as Andrew Beckett, an attorney with AIDS who was fired by his law firm. But he wasn't the first choice. Christopher Reeve was offered the role of Beckett, but turned it down claiming the film was depressing. Other actors to be offered the role include Daniel Day Lewis, Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton. Among other films which could have starred Reeve: "American Gigolo" (1980) whose lead went to Richard Gere; both roles in "Bonfires of the Vanities" (1990), a wise choice by Reeve, and "Romancing the Stone" (1984) where the lead went to Michael Douglas.

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Kenneth Branagh

Branagh also received a nomination for Best Director for "Henry V", but failed to win that one as well.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: William Holden

Holden won for his role in 'Stalag 17' in 1953.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Gene Hackman

Hackman won for 'The French Connection' in 1971.

From Quiz Notable Oscar Snubs: Classic Actors

Answer: Fletcher Christian, "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962)

Brando played Fletcher Christian against Trevor Howard's Captain Bligh in the 1962 version of "Mutiny on the Bounty." While the film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, none of the cast was nominated for acting awards. Brando won his first Academy Award award as Terry Molloy, a dock worker fighting mob corruption in "On the Waterfront" (1954). Ironically, his second was for playing the leader of the Corleone Crime family in "The Godfather" (1972). Brando refused to accept this award as a protest against the treatment of Native Americans. Brando was also nominated for playing Zapata, and for "Last Tango in Paris" (1972). He was also nominated as Marc Antony in "Julius Caesar" (1953) and as a conflicted serviceman in "Sayonara" (1957). Brando's first nomination was as Stanley Kowalski (Stella!) in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1952). His last nomination was in 1990, as a human rights attorney fighting Apartheid in South Africa in "A Dry White Season" (1989). Brando died in July 2004.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Tom Hanks

"Life is Like a Box of Chocolates." Hard to imagine someone other than Tom Hanks saying that, but director Robert Zemeckis' first choice was John Travolta. He turned down the role to do "Pulp Fiction" (1994), a film which did revitalize his career and get him an Academy Award nomination. Travolta did state he regrets turning down Gump. Among the other actors considered for Gump were Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Chevy turned down the role because he didn't like the script. Chase also turned down the role of Lester Burnham in "American Beauty" (1998); Kevin Spacey won for his performance.

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Prizzi's Honor

Nicholson starred in all these movies, and did receive an Oscar nomination for "Ironweed", but it was "Prizzi's Honor" where he was an underworld character.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: Rod Steiger

Steiger was truly an 'everyman's actor', whether it was in musicals like 'Oklahoma!' or his Oscar-winning role in 'In The Heat Of The Night' in 1967, opposite Sidney Poitier. O'Connor reprised the role of Gillespie for the TV series.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Cliff Robertson

Robertson won for 'Charly' in 1968.

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Starman

Bridges played the alien in "Starman" in such a way that the character was touching, innocent and hilariously funny. A great performance, but he lost the trophy to F. Murray Abraham's wonderful turn as Salieri in "Amadeus".

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor II

Answer: Paul Newman

Newman reprised his role in 1961's 'The Hustler' to star opposite Tom Cruise for 'The Color Of Money' in 1986.

From Quiz The Oscars - Best Actor

Answer: Charlton Heston

Heston won for 'Ben-Hur' in 1959.

From Quiz Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men

Answer: Denzel Washington

"King Kong ain't got nothing on me!" Denzel Washington plays the ultimate dirty cop in "Training Day." But it could have been otherwise. At one point during the production, Samuel L Jackson was going to play Alonzo. Bruce Willis was offered the part but turned it down. Gary Sinise and Tom Sizemore were also considered for the role of Alonzo. Other might have been Bruce Willis films include "Ghost" (1990), which starred his then wife Demi Moore; "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (2003) and "Speed" (1994). Denzel Washington can also thank Willis for passing on "Man on Fire" (2004).

From Quiz Best Actor Non-Winners

Answer: Six

"The Verdict" marked Newman's 6th Best Actor Nomination, the previous ones having been for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in 1958, "The Hustler" in 1961, "Hud" in 1963, "Cool Hand Luke" in 1967 and "Absense of Malice" in 1981. Number seven would be the charm for Newman, as the next time he was nominated, for "The Color of Money" in 1986, he'd finally win the prize.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:45 AM

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