Great Actors and Actresses Who Never Won Oscars

When the Academy Awards air this March 2010, there will be a host of actors and actresses hoping for Oscar glory. In the 82 years since the Academy Awards, many have coveted the golden statuette and many great actors and actresses have watched as others earned the title of Oscar winner. While the Academy considers the merit of various performances each year, fans cannot feel cheated when their favorites are denied Oscar gold. And, some of the finest actors and actresses of all time have been denied. Here is my list of those incredible thespians, who were deserving of Hollywood's highest honor:

Actors

Richard Burton

Richard Burton was troubled man, but a brilliant actor. Whether remembered as the passionate Marc Anthony or the sinister O'Brien in 1984, he could captivate and convince an audience. During his career, Richard Burton was nominated seven times by the Academy, but failed to win. Some feel that he was deserving of an Oscar in such films as Becket (1964), The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), but he failed to win any Academy Award.

Cary Grant

Some refer to Cary Grant as being the Tom Hanks of his day. I think it would be more proper to say that Tom Hanks if the Cary Grant of our day. Cary Grant was as handsome as he was talented. He could own a comedic role as well as a dramatic one. Grant is considered one of the greatest movie stars of all time, but he was only nominated twice for an Academy Award. His nominations came for his performances in Penny Serenade (1941) and None But the Lonely Heart (1944). And, each time, he failed to secure the golden statuette.

Peter O'Toole

Who could forget Peter O'Toole? He is and will always be Lawrence of Arabia! O'Toole has been nominated eight times for an Oscar without receiving the Academy Award. With a career that spans more than four decades, O'Toole's name still garners respect and admiration.

And, let's not forget, Oscar hopeful Jeff Bridges, who has yet to be awarded an Academy Award to date. He is in the company of film greats such as Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and John Barrymore.

Actresses

Rosalind Russell

Another versatile actress denied Oscar glory is Rosalind Russell. In her career, which spanned nearly four decades, she made her make in comedy, musicals and drama. Her five Oscar nominations, which four nominations for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress. As well as a talented, Russell was also charitable and received the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work.

Deborah Kerr

Forever Anna Leonowens in our hearts, Deborah Kerr is another wonderful actress, who has been denied an Oscar for her work. While she did receive an honorary award in 1994, the Academy denied her the honor of the Best Actress trophy. In her long career, Kerr earned six Oscar nominations. Many of her movies, including the King and I (1956), From Here to Eternity (1953), and the Sundowners (1960) are classics.

Barbara Stanwyck

Best known as the matriarch on Big Valley to many of us, Barbara Stanwyck is a considered one of the top screen legends of all time. During her career, she was nominated for four Oscars. In her films ranging from comedy to suspense, Stanwyck proved she was one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. While denied Oscars, she made up for her rejection by receiving numerous televisions awards, including three Emmys, one Golden Globe, and an Honorary Award from the Academy.

Let's not forget the incredible Irene Dunn or the unforgettable Greta Garbo are also actresses who received several nominations, but failed to win the golden statuette.

The Oscars are the most prestigious award in the Entertainment world and it is the dream of any serious artist to claim one; however, not all great actors have earned the top prize. Some times, it's a matter of time and sometimes, it's a matter of luck. Regardless, earning an actor is one sign of being a great actor, and in the cases of so many, is not the only sign.