Among the elite few who’ve been honored by the Academy multiple times for their outstanding acting prowess, a select group truly shines as they’ve taken home the prestigious Best Actor award more than once. These are the exceptional actors who have amassed the greatest number of Best Actor statuettes, along with the films and years that etched their names in Oscar lore.
In the realm of cinematic accolades by 2025, I find myself marveling at an extraordinary actor who boasts three victories to his name, while a burgeoning acting troupe has added two trophies to their collection. To add depth to this list, a handful of esteemed performers with impressive resumes and a single win each also make an appearance, as they share the second-highest tally, thus painting a comprehensive portrait of who has amassed the most awards in this category throughout the decades.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis has won an impressive three Academy Awards for Best Actor, earning them in 1989 for ‘My Left Foot’, in 2007 for ‘There Will Be Blood’, and in 2012 for ‘Lincoln’. He is the sole actor to achieve this feat in the Best Actor category. Additionally, he has been nominated for four other Best Actor awards, including ‘In the Name of the Father’, ‘Gangs of New York’, and most recently ‘Phantom Thread’.
Each triumphant character was based on real or historically significant individuals. The life story of Christy Brown formed the basis for ‘My Left Foot’, Daniel Plainview from ‘There Will Be Blood’ was an oil tycoon, and the lead role in ‘Lincoln’ culminated a series of awards including Best Actor at major precursor events.
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy clinched two successive Best Actor accolades in 1937 for ‘Captains Courageous’ and in 1938 for ‘Boys Town’. This made him the inaugural actor to take home consecutive awards in this category.
In summary, Tracy garnered a total of nine Best Actor nominations, equaling the record for that category. His acting career extended throughout the early years of Hollywood studios, and his two victorious performances were from critically acclaimed dramas that played a significant role in MGM’s offerings during the late 1930s.
Tom Hanks
In 1993, Tom Hanks earned the title of Best Actor for his role in ‘Philadelphia’. The following year, he repeated this success with ‘Forrest Gump’, making him one of only a handful of actors who have won the Best Actor award two years in a row.
Besides being nominated for Best Actor, he has also been recognized in multiple other categories for his roles in ‘Big’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Cast Away’, and ‘Captain Phillips’. Later on, he was again nominated, this time for Supporting Actor, at the same ceremony for ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson received two Best Actor Oscars, one for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ in 1975 and another for ‘As Good as It Gets’ in 1997. Additionally, he won a third Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in ‘Terms of Endearment’ in 1983.
Nicholson has been nominated for the Oscar twelve times, eight of which were for Best Actor. His winning performances span two different periods in Hollywood: starting from the New Hollywood movement in the mid-70s and continuing into the late 90s, where he was among several nominations for the film across various categories.
Anthony Hopkins
In 1991, Anthony Hopkins took home the Best Actor award for ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, and he repeated this feat in 2020 with his performance in ‘The Father’. What’s remarkable is that at the age of eighty-three, when he won the latter, he became the oldest actor to ever win an acting prize.
Among his Best Actor nominations are films such as ‘The Remains of the Day’, ‘Nixon’, ‘Amistad’, and most recently, ‘The Two Popes’. His two wins mark a lasting appreciation for his talent that stretches back to the early 1990s, continuing through three decades.
Marlon Brando
In 1954 and 1972, Marlon Brando was awarded Best Actor for his roles in ‘On the Waterfront’ and ‘The Godfather’. However, he did not show up to the ceremony in 1973 when he won again for ‘The Godfather’, instead choosing to boycott the event, an action that turned into one of the most widely recorded moments in Oscar history.
Brando’s two victories were accompanied by numerous other Best Actor nominations, including those for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Last Tango in Paris.” His first win coincided with Elia Kazan’s multiple Oscar wins for “On the Waterfront,” and his second triumph followed one of the most viewed films of the decade.
Gary Cooper
In 1941 and again in 1952, Gary Cooper was awarded Best Actor honors, first for the film ‘Sergeant York’ and then for ‘High Noon’. Later on, in 1961, he received an Honorary Award recognizing his outstanding career accomplishments.
As a dedicated movie buff, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the remarkable career of Gary Cooper. Time and again, he earned Best Actor nominations for captivating performances in movies like “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” His two wins were well-deserved, showcasing his prowess in wartime narratives and setting a benchmark in classic Western films that continue to be at the heart of genre discussions even today.
Dustin Hoffman
In the annals of cinema, I’ve been fortunate to garner the title of Best Actor twice – first for ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ in 1979 and then for ‘Rain Man’ in 1988. I was also nominated for five other Best Actor awards: ‘The Graduate’, ‘Midnight Cowboy’, ‘Lenny’, ‘Tootsie’, and ‘Wag the Dog’.
This way, it gives a sense of personal accomplishment and journey through the actor’s career.
His two victories span topics like family turmoil and an exploration of characters through a journey, with both roles earning significant awards across their screening periods. This recognition catapulted Hoffman into the league of highly-nominated actors within this category.
Sean Penn
In the years 2003 and 2008, Sean Penn was awarded the title of Best Actor for his roles in ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk’, respectively. Additionally, he has been nominated for Best Actor for his performances in ‘Dead Man Walking’, ‘Sweet and Lowdown’, and ‘I Am Sam’.
The two victories mark unique chapters in their biographies and contemporaneous positions. Each of these performances was also acknowledged, earning them acclaim from both the movie’s visual aesthetic and the directors themselves – Clint Eastwood and Gus Van Sant, during their respective periods.
Fredric March
In the year 1931, Fredric March shared the Best Actor award for his roles in ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ with Wallace Beery, as both actors were declared co-winners in an unusual tie at that particular ceremony. Then, seven years later in 1946, he won the Best Actor award again, this time solely for ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’.
His second victory was achieved by a post-war group that garnered numerous Oscars. Additionally, ‘A Star Is Born’ has been nominated this March, further extending its history of acclaim dating back to the 1930s and 1940s.
Adrien Brody
In 2002, Adrien Brody earned the title of Best Actor for ‘The Pianist’, a feat he repeated in 2024 with ‘The Brutalist’. This second win was celebrated at the 2025 awards ceremony. At the time of his first victory, Adrien Brody was only 29 years old, making him the youngest artist to ever receive the Best Actor award.
In 2025, winning the award placed him among the dual victors in that particular category. During that period, he gathered additional nominations and film festival awards for his global and studio-based projects.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro boasts an Oscar win for Best Actor, which he earned for ‘Raging Bull’ in 1980. Additionally, he was honored with a Best Supporting Actor award for his role in ‘The Godfather Part II’ back in 1974.
Among his Best Actor nominations are ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Awakenings’, and ‘Cape Fear’. Throughout the years, he also received nods for supporting roles and as a producer, demonstrating a wide range of Academy accolades over an extended period.
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington holds two prestigious Oscars – one for Best Actor, awarded in 2001 for ‘Training Day,’ and another for Best Supporting Actor, won in 1989 for ‘Glory.’ He boasts the most nominations among Black actors across all Academy Award categories.
Among his additional Best Actor nods are ‘Malcolm X’, ‘The Hurricane’, ‘Flight’, ‘Fences’, ‘Roman J. Israel, Esq.’, and ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’. This collection positions him among actors who have amassed the most overall acting nominations in total.
Al Pacino
Al Pacino won one Best Actor Oscar for the film ‘Scent of a Woman’ in 1992. Additionally, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for ‘The Godfather Part II.’ His lead actor nominations encompass ‘Serpico,’ ‘Dog Day Afternoon,’ and ‘…And Justice for All.’
Throughout his professional journey, he amassed numerous extra accolades for both leading and supporting roles. His Academy record reflects acknowledgement for his performances in courtroom dramas, crime narratives, and modern character explorations.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio received an Oscar for Best Actor in 2015 for his role in ‘The Revenant’. Other times he’s been nominated for Best Actor include ‘The Aviator’, ‘Blood Diamond’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. Additionally, he got a nod for Best Supporting Actor for his part in ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’.
His award history features repeated nominations for producing movies that were up for Best Picture. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he has been frequently nominated in various categories such as direction, scriptwriting, and technical aspects, with many of these films also gaining significant attention in those fields.
Share your own picks and favorite performances from these winners in the comments.
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Wuchang Fallen Feathers Save File Location on PC
- Umamusume: All current and upcoming characters
- Prediction: Boeing Won the F-47 Contract — and Maybe F/A-XX as Well
- From Stage to Screen: 20 Singers Who Tried Acting and How They Fared!
- Umamusume: Gold Ship build guide
- 15 Actors Perfect for the Role of the Firestorm in the DCU
- When DOGE Barks, the Market Listens: August 22 Predictions 🐶💰
- A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: This Blue Chip Healthcare Stock Down 50% Could Double Your Money
- The Paradox of Druckenmiller: Tesla’s Fall and Microsoft’s Ascent
2025-08-27 06:46