If you’re the kind of actor Hollywood likes to nominate for Oscars, it’s better to win one by your fifth nomination. After that, the odds of you actually taking home the gold begin to diminish. Megastar Paul Newman had to wait for his seventh nod to win for “The Color of Money,” not even his best film, to get his — when he could have easily won for “The Verdict” or “Cool Hand Luke,” among other films. And Hollywood finally recognized New York theater legend Geraldine Page on her eighth and final try, for Best Actress in “The Trip to Bountiful.”
This year, Amy Adams and Leonardo DiCaprio received their fifth nominations and both lost, to Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey, respectively. Adams and DiCaprio are much-admired performers, but it’s beginning to look like they’ll never take home Oscar. Should that happen, they’ll be in sterling company:
Richard Burton
He was the kind of actor who many people assumed had an Oscar. But, no. Burton made headlines with Elizabeth Taylor, but not with Oscar. Seven nominations, no win.
Thelma Ritter
One of Hollywood’s greatest character actresses, Ritter could steal a scene from anybody — even Bette Davis — which brought her six Oscar nominations in a celebrated career. Sadly, she never won.
Peter O’Toole
Poor Peter. The sublime Irish actor made his name in “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962 and nabbed the first of eight Oscar nominations. He was brilliant in dramas (“The Lion in Winter”), but truly excelled at comedies such as “My Favorite Year” and “The Ruling Class.” Despite universal admiration, O’Toole died last year without winning a Best Actor Oscar. He was given an honorary award in 2007.
Glenn Close
Close, 65, has won several Emmys, Tonys and a couple of Golden Globes, but Oscar will not ask her to dance. She has been nominated six times in lead and supporting categories, most recently for a crossdressing role in “Albert Nobbs.”
Albert Finney
Like Burton, Finney turned in many fine performances, but after five nominations, he still hasn’t won.
Deborah Kerr
She was a big star in the 1940s and ’50s, making such iconic films as “From Here to Eternity” and “The King and I.” Yet Oscar, who smiled at her six times, always played hard-to-get, and Kerr went to her grave with only an honorary Oscar, in 1994.