In the days leading up to the 89th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well known, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here is what you need to know your nominees for Best Actor.
Casey Affleck
Nominated for: Playing a damaged man attempting to raise an orphaned teen in Manchester by the Sea.
Other honors for this role:
Affleck has been nominated in 57 other places for the this role, and has won 47 awards for it, including the Golden Globe and the BAFTA.
Where you might know him from:
Affleck is the brother of Ben Affleck and is known for his roles in the Ocean’s Eleven series, Gone Baby Gone and Tower Heist.
History with Oscar:
This is Casey Affleck’s second nomination.
2008: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Lost to Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men)
Andrew Garfield
Nominated for: Playing a conscientious objector during World War II in Hacksaw Ridge.
Other honors for this role:
Damon has received 21 other nominations for this role, and has won five awards.
Where you might know him from:
Garfield is known for playing Peter Parker in the last Amazing Spider-Man reboot and has appeared in Silence and The Social Network.
History with Oscar:
This is Andrew Garfield’s first Oscar nomination.
Ryan Gosling
Nominated for: Playing a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress in La La Land.
Other honors for this role:
Gosling has been nominated in this category with 31 other organizations, winning 3 awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Where you might know him from:
Gosling got his start on the Mickey Mouse Club and has built a successful career in films such as Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Nice Guys, and Gangster Squad.
History with Oscar:
Ryan Gosling has one prior Oscar nomination.
2007: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Half Nelson (Lost to Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland)
Viggo Mortensen
Nominated for: Playing a father who must relocate his family from living off the grid to rejoining society in Captain Fantastic.
Other honors for this role:
Mortensen has been nominated 33 times for this role, winning two awards.
Where you might know him from:
Mortensen is an actor as at home in big budget films such as Lord of the Rings and G.I. Jane as he is in art house fare such as On The Road and A Dangerous Method.
History with Oscar:
This is Viggo Mortensen’s second Oscar nomination.
2008: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Eastern Promises (Lost to Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood)
Denzel Washington
Nominated for: Playing a 1950’s father whose past resentments carry over to how he treats his son in Fences.
Other honors for this role:
Washington has received 38 other nominations for this role, winning 12 awards, including one from the Screen Actors Guild.
Where you might know him from:
Washington got his start on the television program, St. Elsewhere. He has also starred in a great number of films in his career, most notably Inside Man and American Gangster.
History with Oscar:
Denzel Washington has two Oscars and six total prior nominations.
2013: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Flight (Lost to Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln)
2002: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Training Day (Won)
2000: Best Actor in a Leading Role, The Hurricane (Lost to Kevin Spacey, American Beauty)
1993: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Malcolm X (Lost to Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman)
1990: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Glory (Won)
1988: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Cry Freedom ( Lost to Michael Douglas, Wall Street).
