• Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hands out a variety of awards for the best performances in the film industry both in front of and behind the camera. Since their inception in 1928, one of the most sought after awards is the Academy Award for performance by an actor in a leading role. During the first three years, nominees had their entire body of work in all of their films for that calendar year in consideration. The first ever winner was Emil Jannings, who received the award for his work in two films. Also in 1928, Charlie Chaplin was given a special award. By 1931, the voting procedure was changed to recognize only one film per nominee, making the system of determining the best performance less confusing for voters. In 1932, Wallace Beery won the voting, but Fredric March came within 1 vote, at the time this meant both men won awards. The most recent winner of the award was Daniel Day-Lewis for his 2007 portrayal of Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. No actor has ever won this specific award more than twice in history. In addition to Day-Lewis, the other two-time award winners are: Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gary Cooper, Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, and Jack Nicholson. Tracy and Hanks are the only men to win the award in consecutive years.

• Fast Facts

  1. 8 different actors have won this award twice
  2. No actor has won this award 3 times
  3. Spencer Tracy and Laurence Olivier are tied for most all-time nominations with 9 each
  4. Peter O'Toole has been nominated the most times without winning (8)
  5. 1970: George C. Scott famously refused his award
  6. 1972: Marlon Brando also famously refused his award
  7. Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks are only actors to win consecutively
  8. There have been 24 non-American winners
  9. 6 actors have won both this award and the Best Supporting Actor award
  10. Peter Finch is the only posthumous winner in 1976
  11. Laurence Olivier in 1948 and Roberto Benigni in 1998 are only winners to direct themselves in their performances

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Best Actress Oscar Winners | Best Supporting Actor Oscar Winners | Best Supporting Actress Oscar Winners | Best Film Oscar Winners

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