Top Actors Of Color Who Were Snubbed At The Oscars

As a film lover, I always find it fascinating – and frustrating – to look back at awards season and see the incredible performances that didn’t get the Oscar recognition they deserved. I’ve been thinking a lot about actors of color who delivered truly memorable work, but somehow missed out on a nomination or didn’t win on the night, even when it seemed like they had a real chance. This isn’t about dismissing the winners, but about acknowledging those who were clearly brilliant and received a lot of buzz, awards from other groups, and critical acclaim, yet still didn’t get that golden statuette. It’s a reminder that praise and momentum don’t always translate to an Oscar win, and that even when everyone agrees someone is fantastic, it’s not always enough at the Dolby Theatre.

Delroy Lindo

As a huge film buff, I was certain Delroy Lindo would be a Best Actor contender for ‘Da 5 Bloods.’ He was getting rave reviews, winning awards from important critics’ circles like the New York Film Critics Circle, and seemed to be everywhere on everyone’s ‘best of the year’ lists. Honestly, I was shocked when the Oscar nominations came out and his name wasn’t among them. It was a major talking point – one of those snubs everyone was buzzing about that year.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba received a Screen Actors Guild Award and praise from many critics for his role in ‘Beasts of No Nation’. Many believed this performance would earn him an Oscar nomination, especially since the film had strong support from industry groups despite being released on a streaming service. However, when the nominations for 2015 were announced, his name was surprisingly left off the list, sparking a lot of discussion within the film industry.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan gained recognition for his roles in ‘Fruitvale Station’ and ‘Creed,’ earning him awards from film festivals and critics. While ‘Creed’ was a box office success and co-star Sylvester Stallone received an Oscar nomination, Jordan wasn’t nominated for his performance in either film. This highlighted how strong lead performances in commercially successful movies can sometimes be overlooked by award voters.

Oscar Isaac

I was so blown away by Oscar Isaac in ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’! Everyone was talking about it – he got a Golden Globe nod, and critics just loved him. The movie itself showed up on a ton of ‘best of’ lists, and people were really praising the directing and the music. Honestly, I thought for sure he’d get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, he was that good. It was a real surprise when he didn’t, but it doesn’t change how amazing I think his performance was.

Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune is famous around the world for his work with director Akira Kurosawa on films like ‘Seven Samurai’ and ‘Yojimbo’. He was a highly acclaimed actor, winning awards at film festivals and inspiring many performers who followed. Surprisingly, despite his huge impact and international recognition, he never received a nomination for an Academy Award, a fact often noted as a significant oversight by the Academy.

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Tony Leung Chiu-wai is a highly acclaimed actor, winning Best Actor at Cannes and receiving many awards throughout Asia and Europe, notably for his role in ‘In the Mood for Love’. He’s known for his nuanced and precise performances, which are often analyzed by film students. Despite his success, he has never been nominated for an Academy Award, and many believe he deserves recognition from the Oscars.

Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan became internationally known for his role in ‘The Lunchbox’ and starred in several major international films. He won awards from film festivals and critics, and was a prominent actor in Indian cinema. Despite his success and acclaim, he never received an Oscar nomination. Even after his passing, people continue to advocate for greater recognition of performances in languages other than English, highlighting his impact.

Song Kang-ho

Song Kang-ho was the heart of ‘Parasite,’ the film that famously won Best Picture and multiple other Academy Awards. He received numerous accolades with the cast, playing a key role in the film’s success. Despite this, none of the actors received individual Oscar nominations, and many felt Song Kang-ho deserved to be considered for Best Actor.

Gael García Bernal

Gael García Bernal first gained widespread recognition for his roles in critically acclaimed films like ‘Amores Perros’ and ‘Y Tu Mamá También,’ and has since received numerous awards and accolades at film festivals, including Golden Globe nominations. Despite his impressive career and success in independent cinema, he has never been nominated for an Academy Award. This is frequently brought up when people discuss the Oscars’ tendency to overlook performances in Spanish.

John David Washington

John David Washington received praise for his roles in ‘BlacKkKlansman’ and ‘Tenet,’ earning him awards from several regional critics groups and helping those films gain recognition during awards season. Despite the positive attention, he wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award for either performance, which many awards experts noted as a surprising omission.

Clifton Collins Jr.

Clifton Collins Jr. received significant praise from critics for his role in ‘Jockey,’ winning several awards, including a special honor at the Sundance Film Festival. Many year-end lists highlighted his performance. However, he surprisingly didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, a result many considered a notable oversight.

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle earned a Best Actor nomination for his role in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ following widespread praise for his performance. Though critics and industry groups recognized his talent with awards and nominations, he didn’t win an Oscar. Throughout his career, films like ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ also received critical acclaim and were considered worthy of nomination. Cheadle’s Oscar journey is frequently used as an example of how excellent acting isn’t always recognized by the Academy.

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman received high praise and a Golden Globe for his role in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, and was recognized by both the Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy Awards. The film itself was nominated for several Oscars and ultimately won awards for its costume design and makeup/hairstyling. However, Boseman did not win the Best Actor Oscar.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor was nominated for Best Actor by several important awards groups for his role in ’12 Years a Slave’, which went on to win Best Picture and other Oscars. He had already gained attention for his work in films like ‘Dirty Pretty Things’ and ‘Kinky Boots’, but he didn’t win the Oscar for his leading role in ’12 Years a Slave’.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington received critical acclaim and a Best Actor nomination for his performance in ‘Malcolm X,’ and the film was nominated for several major awards. Though he didn’t win an Oscar for ‘Malcolm X,’ he later won Best Actor Oscars for both ‘Glory’ and ‘Training Day.’

Will Smith

Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor for his roles in ‘Ali’ and ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ but didn’t win at the Oscars for either film. Despite winning many other awards leading up to the Oscars, he ultimately lost both times. These nominations highlighted his talent and established him as a prominent actor in the industry.

Trevante Rhodes

Trevante Rhodes received a lot of praise for his performance in the movie ‘Moonlight,’ which went on to win major awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. While many critics highlighted his work and he was recognized as part of the film’s winning ensemble, he wasn’t personally nominated for an Oscar.

Lakeith Stanfield

Lakeith Stanfield first gained critical attention for his leading role in ‘Sorry to Bother You,’ which was praised at film festivals and appeared on many ‘best of the year’ lists, also earning accolades for its screenplay and as a noteworthy debut. He further solidified his reputation as an awards contender with a supporting role nomination for ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ though he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for his work in ‘Sorry to Bother You’.

John Boyega

As a film fan, I remember being really impressed with John Boyega in ‘Detroit’ – critics were definitely taking notice! He then took the lead in ‘Breaking,’ which also got some buzz at festivals. Both performances sparked awards talk, especially from regional film groups, and he actually picked up some wins for his TV work around the same time. It’s a shame though, because despite all the praise, he didn’t land an Oscar nomination for either of those roles.

Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell received widespread praise for his portrayal of Eazy E in ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ contributing to the film’s success and several awards, including an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. While many critics highlighted Mitchell’s performance and included him on lists of promising actors, he himself did not receive an individual Oscar nomination.

Brian Tyree Henry

Brian Tyree Henry gained significant praise for his work in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’. While the film itself won an award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for several Oscars, Henry’s impactful, though small, role only earned him recognition from various regional awards groups – he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar himself.

Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes was awarded Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his role in ‘One Night Stand’. He gained significant international recognition, including a Golden Globe nomination, for his dramatic performances beyond his well-known action movies. While critically acclaimed at various film festivals, he surprisingly never received an Oscar nomination for his acting.

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee revolutionized action movies worldwide with films like ‘Enter the Dragon’ and ‘The Way of the Dragon’. These movies were huge successes both financially and culturally, changing how fight scenes were created and who was represented on screen. Despite his massive influence, he was never nominated for an Academy Award.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was given a special award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize his incredible impact on filmmaking. He’s famous for blending hilarious comedy with groundbreaking stunts in movies like the ‘Police Story’ and ‘Drunken Master’ series. While he’s received many prestigious awards throughout Asia and at film festivals around the world, he has never been nominated for an Academy Award for acting.

Omar Sy

Omar Sy received the César Award, France’s top film honor, for his role in ‘The Intouchables,’ which was also a huge success worldwide. Since then, he’s appeared in popular blockbuster franchises and critically acclaimed European films, earning him numerous awards and nominations across the continent. Despite his success, he has yet to be nominated for an Academy Award.

John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo is a celebrated actor known for his work in both theater and film. He’s earned Tony Award nominations and critical praise for performances in movies like ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ and ‘Carlito’s Way,’ and has been recognized for his contributions to several film ensembles. Throughout his career, he’s also delivered acclaimed solo performances and memorable character roles, though he has yet to receive an Oscar nomination for his acting.

Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmos was nominated for Best Actor for his role in ‘Stand and Deliver’. The film quickly became popular in schools and communities, raising awareness about its important themes. He received many awards from critics and cultural groups, though he didn’t win the Academy Award.

Demián Bichir

Demián Bichir received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in ‘A Better Life’. His performance was also recognized by the Screen Actors Guild and other awards groups. The film explored important themes of immigration and family, connecting with many viewers. However, he did not win the Academy Award.

Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr. was nominated for both a Supporting Actor award and Best Original Song for his work in ‘One Night in Miami’. While critics praised his performance and he received several awards leading up to the Oscars, he didn’t win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo was nominated for Best Actor for his role in ‘Rustin’. Throughout the awards season, he received praise from many important film critics and organizations. While the film highlighted his strong performance, he didn’t win the Academy Award.

Sterling K. Brown

As a huge movie fan, I was really rooting for Sterling K. Brown this awards season! He delivered a fantastic performance in ‘American Fiction’ and definitely got a lot of buzz – he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and picked up awards from a lot of the critics’ groups and was on all the guild lists. While the movie itself did win Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars, sadly he didn’t take home the acting award, which was a bit of a disappointment.

Hidetoshi Nishijima

Hidetoshi Nishijima starred in ‘Drive My Car,’ a critically acclaimed film nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. It won the Oscar for Best International Feature. Nishijima himself received awards from various international film critics for his performance, and the film’s cast was widely celebrated at film festivals. However, he was not nominated for an acting Oscar.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Pulp Fiction’ and won numerous awards from critics at the time. Although many predicted he would win, he didn’t receive the Oscar. He later received an honorary Oscar celebrating his entire career, and fans continue to debate which of his performances deserved further award recognition.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy received a Screen Actors Guild Award and praise from many critics for his performance in ‘Dreamgirls’. He was considered a strong favorite to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but ultimately lost to another nominee, a result that many found surprising given his previous wins. This loss is often cited as one of the most notable Oscar snubs in acting history.

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in both ‘In America’ and ‘Blood Diamond’. He received high praise from critics and awards from various guilds for both performances, but unfortunately didn’t win an Oscar either time. These nominations demonstrate just how strong the competition was in those years.

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard was nominated for Best Actor for his role in ‘Hustle & Flow’ and received several awards from critics and industry organizations. Although he didn’t win the Oscar, his performance is still often mentioned as one that could have won under different circumstances.

Ken Watanabe

Ken Watanabe gained international recognition with his performance in ‘The Last Samurai,’ earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. While he received critical acclaim and award buzz that year, he didn’t win. He continued to star in well-regarded films, keeping him in the running for awards, but he hasn’t received another nomination since.

Dev Patel

Dev Patel was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘Lion’ after receiving several awards leading up to the Oscars. He had previously gained recognition for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ with various group and rising star awards. Although he received a lot of attention, he didn’t win an Oscar for ‘Lion’. Many people point to his awards history as a case of a well-run campaign that ultimately didn’t result in a victory.

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun was nominated for Best Actor for his role in ‘Minari,’ a film that was a strong contender throughout awards season. He won several critics’ awards and received recognition from industry groups before the Oscars. Although he didn’t win the Oscar, the nomination sparked discussions about the lack of representation for Asian male leads in that category.

Jeffrey Wright

As a film lover, I was really rooting for Jeffrey Wright this awards season. He was phenomenal in ‘American Fiction,’ and thankfully the film did win for its screenplay. He racked up a ton of praise from critics and various awards bodies leading up to the Oscars, and deservedly so. While he didn’t take home the Best Actor Oscar on the night, it’s clear his work represents a consistently high level of skill that the Academy, in my opinion, hasn’t fully celebrated as much as it should.

Share the actors and performances you think were most overlooked in the comments.

2025-11-12 00:20