See Every Best Actor Winner in the History of the Oscars (Including the Star Who's Taken Home 3 Golden Statuettes!)
See Every Best Actor Winner in the History of the Oscars (Including the Star Who's Taken Home 3 Golden Statuettes!)
Alexandra Schonfeld, James Mercadante, Carson BlackwelderSun, March 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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From Cillian Murphy and Will Smith to Sidney Poitier and Daniel Day-Lewis, a roll call of every Best Actor winner since the first-ever Academy Awards in 1929Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty; Bei/Shutterstock; Archive Photos/Getty
And the Oscar for Best Actor goes to ...
Since the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, the Academy has awarded both male and female actors in leading roles for their cinematic accomplishments. (Trophies for supporting performances wouldn't be presented until 1937 at the ninth annual Oscars.)
At the 2026 Oscars, five individuals are up for Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio (a previous winner) for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.
Ahead of the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, take a look back through the history of the category — from Sidney Poitier making history as the first Black man to win the title to Peter Finch becoming the only individual to win the category posthumously and more notable highlights.
Read on for a list of every Hollywood star who has taken home the golden statuette for Best Actor over the years.
2025: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Adrien Brody holds his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 97th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 2, 2025Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Adrien Brody became a two-time Oscar winner thanks to his Best Actor win for playing László Tóth in Brady Corbet's 2024 period drama The Brutalist. That night, he broke the record for the longest acceptance speech ever.
2024: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy accepts the Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 96th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 10, 2024Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty
Cillian Murphy clinched his first-ever Oscar in 2024 for portraying the titular physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's historical drama Oppenheimer.
2023: Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Brendan Fraser accepts the Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 95th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 12, 2023Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Following a decades-long break from the industry, Brendan Fraser won the Best Actor Oscar in 2023 thanks to his triumphant return in The Whale, which tells the story of a reclusive man trying to repair his relationship with his teen daughter.
2022: Will Smith, King Richard
Will Smith accepts the Oscar for Best Actor onstage during the 94th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 27, 2022Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty
Will Smith in 2022 won his first Oscar thanks to his performance as Richard Williams — father of tennis stars and sisters Venus Williams and Serena Williams — in the sports drama King Richard.
However, the moment was overshadowed as Smith slapped comedian and presenter Chris Rock onstage earlier in the night following a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
2021: Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Anthony Hopkins became the oldest star to win the Best Actor title when he nabbed the prize for his performance in The Father at age 83 in 2021.
2020: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
While Joaquin Phoenix's role as Arthur Fleck won him the Best Actor Oscar in 2020, he wasn't nominated for the film's 2024 sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux.
2019: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Rami Malek's performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, which charted the band Queen's rise to stardom, earned him the trophy in 2019.
2018: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Gary Oldman accepts the Oscar for Best Actor during the 90th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 4, 2018Credit: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock
Gary Oldman took home the award in 2018 for his role as former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.
2017: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck accepts the Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 89th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 26, 2017Credit: Eddy Chen/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Casey Affleck won the Best Actor title in 2017 for his performance as Lee Chandler, a janitor living with PTSD, in Manchester by the Sea.
2016: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
In 2016, more than two decades after his first Oscar nomination, DiCaprio took home the award for Best Actor for his role as frontiersman Hugh Glass in The Revenant.
2015: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne accepts the Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 87th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 22, 2015Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Eddie Redmayne took home the award for his performance as theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
2014: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey accepts the Oscar for Best Actor onstage during the 86th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on March 2, 2014Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
In 2014, Matthew McConaughey won his first Oscar for his performance as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. The film was based on Woodroof's real-life story of being diagnosed with HIV and smuggling medicine into Texas to give to others living with the disease.
2013: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Daniel Day-Lewis poses with his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 85th Academy Awards at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in L.A. on Feb. 24, 2013Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Daniel Day-Lewis scored his third Oscar for Best Actor in 2013 for his performance as former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln — making him the winningest actor in the category's history.
2012: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
In the silent, black-and-white film The Artist, Jean Dujardin's role as screen star George Valentin won him the award in 2012.
2011: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Colin Firth was named Best Actor in 2011 for his performance as King George VI in The King's Speech.
2010: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston arrive at the 'Vanity Fair' Oscar afterparty at Sunset Tower in L.A. on March 7, 2010Credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage
Jeff Bridges' portrayal of country singer Otis "Bad" Blake in Crazy Heart earned him the award in 2010.
2009: Sean Penn, Milk
Sean Penn accepts the Oscar for Best Actor Oscar during the 81st Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A. on Feb. 22, 2009Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In 2009, Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk — California's first openly gay elected official — won him his second Oscar for Best Actor.
2008: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Day-Lewis' second Oscar came in 2008 for embodying the role of oil tycoon Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood.
2007: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
Forest Whitaker (left) and Kenn Whitaker attend the 'Vanity Fair' Oscar afterparty at Morton's in L.A. on Feb. 25, 2007Credit: Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty
Forest Whitaker's portrayal of Uganda President Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland earned him the award in 2007.
2006: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Philip Seymour Hoffman poses with his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 78th Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 5, 2006Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Philip Seymour Hoffman's sole Oscar win came in 2006 for his role as novelist Truman Capote in Capote.
2005: Jamie Foxx, Ray
Jamie Foxx won the award for portraying iconic musician Ray Charles in the biopic Ray in 2005.
2004: Sean Penn, Mystic River
Penn picked up his first Oscar for Best Actor in 2004 for his performance as ex-convict Jimmy Markum in Mystic River.
2003: Adrien Brody, The Pianist
Adrien Brody poses with his Best Actor Oscar during the 75th Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 23, 2003Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty
Brody's performance as Polish music composer Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Holocaust survivor, in The Pianist earned him his first Oscar in 2003.
2002: Denzel Washington, Training Day
Denzel Washington accepts the Oscar for Best Actor onstage during the 74th Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre in L.A. on March 24, 2002Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Denzel Washington, who is the most-nominated Black actor in Academy Awards history, won the Best Actor Oscar in 2002 for his performance as detective Alonzo Harris in Training Day.
2001: Russell Crowe, Gladiator
Russell Crowe scored the award in 2001 for his role as the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
2000: Kevin Spacey, American Beauty
Kevin Spacey holds his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 72nd Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 26, 2000Credit: Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty
Kevin Spacey's performance as ad exec Lester Burnham in American Beauty earned him the title in 2000.
1999: Roberto Benigni, Life Is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni poses with two Oscars, including a trophy for Best Actor, in the press room during the 71st Academy Awards at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 21, 1999Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Italian actor and filmmaker Roberto Benigni both starred in and directed Life Is Beautiful, which won him the award for Best Actor in 1999.
1998: Jack Nicholson, As Good as It Gets
Robin Williams (left) and Jack Nicholson pose with their Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, respectively, during the 70th Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 23, 1998Credit: HECTOR MATA/AFP via Getty
In 1998, more than two decades after receiving his first Oscar, Jack Nicholson's performance as romance novelist Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets won him his second trophy in the category.
1997: Geoffrey Rush, Shine
Geoffrey Rush took home the Oscar in 1997 for his role as piano prodigy David Helfgott in Shine.
1996: Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas
Nicolas Cage won the award for Best Actor in 1996 for his portrayal of Ben Sanderson — a Hollywood screenwriter with an alcohol problem — in the film adaptation of the eponymous novel Leaving Las Vegas.
1995: Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks won his second Best Actor trophy — a rare back-to-back win — in 1995 for playing the title character in Forrest Gump.
1994: Tom Hanks, Philadelphia
Tom Hanks holds his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 66th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 21, 1994Credit: Steve Starr/Corbis/Getty
Hanks took home his first Oscar in 1994 for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett — an associate attorney living with AIDS — in Philadelphia.
1993: Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman
Al Pacino holds up his Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 65th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 29, 1993Credit: HAL GARB/AFP via Getty
Al Pacino won his sole Oscar in 1993 for his performance in Scent of a Woman as Lt. Col. Frank Slade.
1992: Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs
Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster pose with their respective Best Actor and Best Actress Oscars during the 64th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 30, 1992Credit: John Barr/Liaison/Getty
For portraying the psychopathic killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, Hopkins won his first Best Actor Oscar in 1992.
1991: Jeremy Irons, Reversal of Fortune
Jeremy Irons holds his Best Actor Oscar in the press room during the 63rd Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 25, 1991Credit: SCOTT FLYNN/AFP via Getty
Jeremy Irons' starring role as British lawyer Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune won him the title in 1991.
1990: Daniel Day-Lewis, My Left Foot
Daniel Day-Lewis poses in the press room with his Best Actor Oscar during the 62nd Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 26, 1990Credit: CHRISTOPHE D YVOIRE/Sygma via Getty
Day-Lewis took home his first Oscar in 1990 for his role as Christy Brown — a writer and painter living with cerebral palsy — in My Left Foot.
1989: Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman received his second Oscar in 1989 for his performance as autistic savant Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man, costarring Tom Cruise as his older brother, Charlie.
1988: Michael Douglas, Wall Street
Michael Douglas' role in the first Wall Street film as corporate raider Gordon Gekko won him the award for Best Actor in 1988. He reprised the role more than 20 years later in the 2010 sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
1987: Paul Newman, The Color of Money
After decades in the industry, Paul Newman won his first competitive Oscar in 1987 for his performance as pool player "Fast" Eddie Felson in The Color of Money. The year prior, he won an honorary award for his career.
1986: William Hurt, Kiss of the Spider Woman
William Hurt holds his Best Actor Oscar during the 58th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 24, 1986Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
William Hurt took home the coveted trophy in 1986 for his role as Luis Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
1985: F. Murray Abraham, Amadeus
F. Murray Abraham poses with his Oscar for Best Actor during the 57th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 25, 1985Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
F. Murray Abraham scored an Oscar in 1985 for his performance as composer Antonio Salieri — the rival of the titular composer in Amadeus.
1984: Robert Duvall, Tender Mercies
Robert Duval poses with his Best Actor Oscar during the 56th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 9, 1984Credit: Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty
Robert Duvall's portrayal of singer-songwriter Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies won him the award in 1984.
1983: Ben Kingsley, Gandhi
Ben Kingsley received the Best Actor honor in 1983 for his performance as the titular Indian leader in the biographical film.
1982: Henry Fonda, On Golden Pond
Henry Fonda is captured at his L.A. home as daughter Jane Fonda (right) presents him with the Best Actor Oscar on March 29, 1982Credit: Bettmann Archive
Though Henry Fonda was unable to attend the 1982 ceremony in person, his daughter, actress Jane Fonda, accepted the award on his behalf and delivered it to him for his role as Norman Thayer Jr. in On Golden Pond.
1981: Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Robert De Niro accepts the Oscar for Best Actor during the 53rd Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 31, 1981Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Robert De Niro's performance as professional boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull won the actor the title in 1981.
1980: Dustin Hoffman, Kramer vs. Kramer
Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman pose with their respective Best Actress and Best Actor Oscars during the 52nd Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 14, 1980Credit: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty
Hoffman took home his first Best Actor Oscar in 1980 for his performance as N.Y.C. ad exec Ted Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer opposite Meryl Streep.
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1979: Jon Voight, Coming Home
Jon Voight was named Best Actor in 1979 for his role as Vietnam veteran Luke Martin in Coming Home.
1978: Richard Dreyfuss, The Goodbye Girl
Richard Dreyfuss accepts his Best Actor Oscar onstage during the 50th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on April 3, 1978Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Richard Dreyfuss was the Best Actor recipient in 1978 for his performance as aspiring actor Elliot Garfield in The Goodbye Girl.
1977: Peter Finch, Network
Two months after he died at age 60, Finch posthumously won the award in 1977 for his role as news anchor Howard Beale in Network.
1976: Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Jack Nicholson waves his Oscar for Best Actor in the press room during the 48th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 29, 1976Credit: Bettmann Archive
Nicholson won his first Oscar in 1976 for his performance as psychiatric patient Randle Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
1975: Art Carney, Harry and Tonto
Art Carney won the award in 1975 for his role as the titular elderly widower, Harry Coombes, in Harry and Tonto.
1974: Jack Lemmon, Save the Tiger
Jack Lemmon's portrayal of businessman Harry Stoner in Save the Tiger earned him the title in 1974.
1973: Marlon Brando, The Godfather
Sacheen Littlefeather (right) refuses the Oscar for Best Actor on behalf of Marlon Brando during the 45th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 27, 1973Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather famously appeared on Marlon Brando's behalf in 1973 and refused to accept the Best Actor trophy, which he'd won for his performance as mafia boss Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, due to the film industry's treatment of Native Americans.
1972: Gene Hackman, The French Connection
Gene Hackman poses with his Best Supporting Actor Oscar during the 65th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A. on March 29, 1993Credit: Avalon/Getty
Gene Hackman's performance as detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection won him the Oscar in 1972.
The prolific actor earned his second in 1993, this time for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Unforgiven. Hackman died at the age of 95 alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in February 2025.
1971: George C. Scott, Patton
George C. Scott nabbed the award in 1971 for his performance as Gen. George S. Patton in Patton.
1970: John Wayne, True Grit
John Wayne won the Oscar in 1970 for his performance as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn in True Grit.
1969: Cliff Robertson, Charly
Cliff Robertson's portrayal of a man with an intellectual disability in Charly earned him the award for Best Actor in 1969.
1968: Rod Steiger, In the Heat of the Night
From left: Claire Bloom, Rod Steiger and Bob Hope pose during the 40th Academy Awards at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 10, 1968Credit: Bettmann Archive
Rod Steiger was named Best Actor in 1968 for his performance as police chief Bill Gillespie in In The Heat of the Night, which he starred in alongside Poitier.
1967: Paul Scofield, A Man for All Seasons
Paul Scofield's performance as Sir Thomas Moore — the 16th-century Lord Chancellor of England — in A Man for All Seasons won him the award in 1967.
1966: Lee Marvin, Cat Ballou
Lee Marvin earned the award in 1966 for his dual performance as both of the main gunslingers, Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn, in Cat Ballou.
1965: Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady
Rex Harrison's performance as Professor Henry Higgins alongside Audrey Hepburn — who was notably snubbed — in My Fair Lady won him the award in 1965.
1964: Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field
Sidney Poitier looks into a mirror and smiles while holding his Best Actor Oscar backstage during the 36th Academy Awards at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 13, 1964Credit: Gene Lester/Getty
In 1962, Poitier became the first Black man to win Best Actor thanks to his performance as Homer Smith — a handyman building a chapel in the desert — in Lilies of the Field.
1963: Gregory Peck, To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck's performance as lawyer Atticus Finch in the screen adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird won the award in 1963.
1962: Maximilian Schell, Judgment at Nuremberg
Maximilian Schell took home the award in 1962 for his portrayal of defense attorney Hans Rolfe in Judgment at Nuremberg.
1961: Burt Lancaster, Elmer Gantry
In 1961, Burt Lancaster's performance as the titular con man in Elmer Gantry earned him the Oscar.
1960: Charlton Heston, Ben-Hur
Charlton Heston holds his Best Actor Oscar after the 32nd Academy Awards ceremony at RKO Pantages Theatre in L.A. on April 4, 1960Credit: Bettmann Archive
Charlton Heston's performance as Judah Ben-Hur — a Jewish prince of Jerusalem — in Ben-Hur won him the award in 1960.
1959: David Niven, Separate Tables
In 1959, David Niven took home the statuette for Best Actor for his performance as veteran Major Angus Pollack in Separate Tables.
1958: Alec Guinness, The Bridge on the River Kwai
Alec Guinness won the award in 1958 for his performance as Colonel Nicholson — leader of British prisoners of war — in the war film The Bridge on the River Kwai.
1957: Yul Brynner, The King and I
Yul Brynner's portrayal of King Mongkut of Siam in the film adaptation of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I earned him Best Actor in 1957.
1956: Ernest Borgnine, Marty
Ernest Borgnine poses backstage with his Best Actor Oscar during the 28th Academy Awards at RKO Pantages Theatre in L.A. on March 21, 1956Credit: Earl LeafMichael Ochs Archives/Getty
Ernest Borgnine's performance as the titular N.Y.C. butcher in the romance film, Marty, won him the award in 1956.
1955: Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront
Brando's role as former boxer Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront won the actor his first Oscar in 1955.
1954: William Holden, Stalag 17
William Holden won the Best Actor award in 1954 for his leading role as Sgt. J.J. Sefton in Stalag 17.
1953: Gary Cooper, High Noon
Gary Cooper's performance as Will Kane in High Noon — alongside Grace Kelly — won him the title in 1953.
1952: Humphrey Bogart, The African Queen
Humphrey Bogart receives a kiss from Claire Trevor backstage during the 24th Academy Awards at RKO Pantages Theatre in L.A. on March 20, 1952Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty
Humphrey Bogart's role as Charlie Allnut in The African Queen earned him the award in 1952.
1951: José Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergerac
José Ferrer took home the award in 1951 for his performance as the titular character in Cyrano de Bergerac.
1950: Broderick Crawford, All the King's Men
In 1950, Broderick Crawford's portrayal of politician Willie Stark in All the King's Men won him the coveted award.
1949: Laurence Olivier, Hamlet
Laurence Olivier's performance as the titular character in Hamlet — which he also directed — won him the Oscar for Best Actor in 1949.
1948: Ronald Colman, A Double Life
Loretta Young and Ronald Colman pose with their Oscars during the 20th Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 20, 1948Credit: Bettmann Archive
Ronald Colman won the award in 1948 for his role as stage actor Anthony "Tony" John in A Double Life.
1947: Fredric March, The Best Years of Our Lives
Fredric March's performance as U.S. Army sergeant Al Stephenson in The Best Years of Our Lives won him the Oscar in 1947.
1946: Ray Milland, The Lost Weekend
Ray Milland's starring role as N.Y.C. writer Don Birnam in The Lost Weekend earned the actor the award in 1946.
1945: Bing Crosby, Going My Way
Bing Crosby brought home the award in 1945 for his performance as a young priest, Father O'Malley, in Going My Way.
1944: Paul Lukas, Watch on the Rhine
Paul Lukas and Jennifer Jones hold their Oscars during the 16th Academy Awards at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in L.A. on March 2, 1944Credit: Archive Photos/Getty
Paul Lukas won the award for Best Actor for his performance as German engineer Kurt Muller in Watch on the Rhine in 1944.
1943: James Cagney, Yankee Doodle Dandy
In 1943, James Cagney won the title for his portrayal of George M. Cohan — a real-life composer, playwright and performer — in Yankee Doodle Dandy.
1942: Gary Cooper, Sergeant York
Cooper took home his second Oscar in 1942, this time for his role as American soldier Alvin C. York in Sergeant York.
1941: James Stewart, The Philadelphia Story
James Stewart's performance as reporter Macaulay "Mike" Connor in The Philadelphia Story alongside Katharine Hepburn won him the Oscar in 1941.
1940: Robert Donat, Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Robert Donat took home the award in 1940 for his role as public school teacher Charles "Mr. Chips" Chipping in Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
1939: Spencer Tracy, Boys Town
Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis holding their Oscars during the 11th Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in L.A. on Feb. 23, 1939Credit: Bettmann Archive
Spencer Tracy won the award in 1939 for his performance as Irish priest Father Flanagan in Boys Town.
1938: Spencer Tracy, Captains Courageous
Tracy's leading role as fisherman Manuel Fidello in Captains Courageous earned him the trophy in 1938 in a rare back-to-back win.
1937: Paul Muni, The Story of Louis Pasteur
In 1937, Paul Muni took home the award for his starring role as the titular French chemist in The Story of Louis Pasteur.
1936: Victor McLaglen, The Informer
Victor McLaglen's portrayal of Gypo Nolan, a disgraced member of the Irish Republican Army, in The Informer earned him the award in 1936.
1935: Clark Gable, It Happened One Night
Clark Gable holds his Best Actor Oscar during the 7th Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in L.A. on Feb. 27, 1935Credit: Bettmann Archive
Legendary actor Clark Gable took home his first and only Oscar in 1935 for his performance as news reporter Peter Warne in It Happened One Night — the first film to win in all five major categories.
1934: Charles Laughton, The Private Life of Henry VIII
Charles Laughton's role as the titular king in The Private Life of Henry VIII won him the award in 1934.
1932: Wallace Beery, The Champ, and Fredric March, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (tie)
There has only been one tie in the category's history, and it happened in 1932. In this rare instance, Wallace Beery won for playing former heavyweight champion Andy "Champ" Purcell in The Champ and March, winning his second Oscar, won for playing the titular duel role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
1931: Lionel Barrymore, A Free Soul
Marie Dressler and Lionel Barrymore hold their Oscars during the 4th Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in L.A. on Nov. 10, 1931Credit: Bettmann Archive
Lionel Barrymore received the honor for his role as defense lawyer Stephen Ashe in the crime drama A Free Soul in 1931.
1930: George Arliss, Disraeli
George Arliss' portrayal of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in Disraeli won him the title at the third ceremony on Nov. 5, 1930.
1930: Warner Baxter, In Old Arizona
At the second annual ceremony on April 3, 1930, Warner Baxter won the award for his performance as The Cisco Kid in the Western In Old Arizona.
1929: Emil Jannings, The Way of All Flesh and The Last Command
Emil Jannings won the inaugural Best Actor trophy in 1929 for his performances in two films: The Way of All Flesh and The Last Command. Following his win, which was announced three months before the first annual ceremony, the German actor returned to his home country and later starred in pro-Germany films and campaigned for Hitler, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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