Several famous comedic actors and actresses have been nominated for Oscars and a few of them have even taken home the award. Several veterans of "Saturday Night Live" went on to have award-winning careers as dramatic actors, writers, and directors. This list of comedic actors who have been nominated for Oscars has been loosely ranked by fame and popularity.
Who is the most famous comedic actor who has been nominated for an Oscar? Will Smith tops our list. Smith first entered the world of acting on his comedic sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in the early 1990s. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading role in 2002 for his performance in Ali and again in 2007 for The Pursuit of Happyness. Smith didn't win either award, but he has gone on to star in such films as I am Legend and Hancock.
Robert Downey Jr. was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" in 1985. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1993 for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin. He was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his hilarious performance in Tropic Thunder. Downey Jr. has since gone on to star in the Iron Man films. Several comedians have even won Oscars including Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, and Bret McKenzie.
Are you surprised that so many funny actors have been nominated for Academy Awards? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
http://www.ranker.com/list/comedic-actors-who-have-been-nominated-for-oscars/ranker-film,
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin made some of the greatest comedic films of the silent-era. He was nominated for four Academy Awards. He took home two honorary Oscars for his contribution to film. He also won an Academy Award in 1973 for Best Music for his film Limelight which, although it was produced in the 1950s, wasn't released in Los Angeles until 1972.
Eddie Murphy
Stand-up comedian Eddie Murphy appeared on "Saturday Night Live" from 1980-1984. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2007 for his performance in the musical Dreamgirls. Murphy has also appeared in such films as The Nutty Professor and Coming to America.
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson started her career in the Footlights sketch comedy troupe alongside Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. She has been nominated for four Academy Awards. She took home Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Howards End (1992) and Best Writing for Sense and Sensibility (1995). Thompson has appeared in such films as Saving Mr. Banks and Last Chance Harvey.
James Franco
James Franco has starred in hilarious comedies like This is the End and Pineapple Express. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2011 for his performance in 127 Hours. Franco has gone on to star in such films as Oz the Great and Powerful and Spring Breakers.
Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers starred in The Pink Panther series of crime comedies. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) and Being There (1979). He was also nominated for Best Short Subject for The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960).
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. was a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" in 1985. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1993 for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin. He was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for his hilarious performance in Tropic Thunder. Downey has since gone on to star in the Iron Man films.
Robin Williams
Stand-up comedian Robin Williams has been nominated for an Academy Award a total of four times. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), and The Fisher King (1991). He won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Good Will Hunting (1997).
Whoopi Goldberg
Stand-up comedian Whoopi Goldberg was nominated for an Oscar twice. The first time was for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Color Purple (1985). She won the second time around when she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost (1990). More recently Goldberg has been busy co-hosing "The View."
Will Smith
Will Smith first entered the world of acting on his sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in the early 1990s. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading role in 2002 for his performance in Ali and again in 2007 for The Pursuit of Happyness. Smith didn't win either award, but he has gone on to star in such films as I am Legend and Hancock.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen started his career as a stand-up comic and writer for such shows as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show," and Sid Caesar's show. He has been nominated for a total of 23 Academy Awards for directing and writing. Allen won Oscars for Best Writing and Best Director for Annie Hall (1978), Best Writing for Hannah and Her Sisters (1987), and Best Writing for Midnight in Paris (2012). While he is frequently nominated for awards, Allen rarely attends the ceremonies.