Which actors hold the records for longest gaps between Oscar nominations?

Matthew Stewart
·4 min read

Upon securing a spot in the 2024 Best Supporting Actress Oscar lineup, Jodie Foster (“Nyad”) officially shattered the Academy Awards record for longest span between fourth and fifth acting nominations. Following her two Best Actress wins for “The Accused” (1989) and “The Silence of the Lambs” (1992), she had last been recognized in that category for “Nell” (1995), making for a general nomination gap of 29 years. Coincidentally, she took this particular distinction from fellow “Silence of the Lambs” winner Anthony Hopkins, who waited 22 years between his supporting bids for “Amistad” (1998) and “The Two Popes” (2020).

Previously, the female record for longest wait for a fifth nomination was 12 years, as shared by Julianne Moore (“Far from Heaven” and “The Hours”, 2003; “Still Alice,” 2015) and Frances McDormand (“North Country,” 2006; “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” 2018). Considering gaps between any two consecutive acting nominations, Foster ranks well behind overall record holder Judd Hirsch, whose first and second career notices for “Ordinary People” (1981) and “The Fabelmans” (2023) came 42 years apart. His female counterpart is Helen Hayes (39 years), who happened to succeed on both of her only two bids for “The Sin of Madelon Claudet” (lead, 1932) and “Airport” (supporting, 1971).

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The record for most time between second and third nominations (38 years) was set by Jack Palance (“Shane,” 1954; “City Slickers,” 1992) and later matched by Alan Arkin (“The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,” 1969; “Little Miss Sunshine,” 2007). Both men ended up prevailing on their third outings. The equivalent actress is Sally Field (28 years), who conversely clinched two lead trophies for “Norma Rae” (1980) and “Places in the Heart” (1985) long before coming up short on her sole supporting bid for “Lincoln” (2013).

The performer who waited the longest (23 years) for his fourth nomination was Mickey Rooney (“The Bold and the Brave,” 1957; “The Black Stallion,” 1980), while that female distinction (17 years) belongs to both Joanne Woodward (“Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams,” 1974; “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge,” 1991) and Kathy Bates (“About Schmidt,” 2003; “Richard Jewell,” 2020). Glenn Close also set a record by waiting 23 years for her sixth notice (“Dangerous Liaisons,” 1989; “Albert Nobbs,” 2012), thus surpassing male actor Paul Muni’s gap of 22 years (“The Life of Emile Zola,” 1938; “The Last Angry Man,” 1960). His case is special since he was a write-in candidate (ultimately coming in second place) rather than an official nominee on his third outing (“Black Fury,” 1936).

To date, exactly 25 people (14 men and 11 women) have reached acting Oscar nomination totals of at least seven. The ones who spent the most time getting there from six were Robert De Niro (21 years; “Cape Fear,” 1992 and “Silver Linings Playbook,” 2013) and Greer Garson (15 years; “The Valley of Decision,” 1946 and “Sunrise at Campobello,” 1961), while the longest paths from seven to eight lasted 24 years (Peter O’Toole; “My Favorite Year,” 1983 and “Venus,” 2007) and eight years (Judi Dench; “Philomena,” 2014 and “Belfast,” 2022).

Of the nine performers with nine or more nominations, the ones who took the longest to get there from eight were Al Pacino (27 years; “Scent of a Woman” and “Glengarry Glen Ross,” 1993 and “The Irishman,” 2020) and Bette Davis (six years; “Mr. Skeffington,” 1945 and “All About Eve,” 1951), the latter of whom was a write-in nominee on her first go (“Of Human Bondage,” 1935). From there on, every other gap record belongs to either Davis (11 nominations), Katharine Hepburn (12), Jack Nicholson (12), or Meryl Streep (21). Having been lauded for “Morning Glory” (1934) and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1968) 34 years apart, Hepburn also ranks second on the list of largest gaps between consecutive acting wins, behind only Hayes.

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