TOP 10: Best Supporting Actor Oscar Wins
BY Kevin Dillon
The Academy Awards created the Best Supporting Actor category in 1936, for the 9th Annual Academy Awards. One of the fascinating trends in this category is that there tends to be a time-old tradition of honoring veterans who have made an impact in the industry; the category has also celebrated some great scene stealers, villains, and some performances folks may consider “lead” (for example, this year’s presumed Best Supporting Actor Oscar frontrunner Kieran Culkin is a co-lead in the film A Real Pain).
One of the interesting things over time is that this category has honored winners who have imprinted on us in impactful ways. They broke our hearts, they terrified us, they gave words of wisdom to our protagonist, and in some rare cases, they made us laugh incredibly hard.
Listed below is a group of 11 men (in alphabetical order) who accomplished many of those emotions, and are — in my opinion — the most impactful winners of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Two notes: I had a hard time narrowing this list down to 10, so you will get 11, and I genuinely tried to avoid performances that were lead, or that many consider lead. There are two many could argue fit in that group, but they are in ensembles, so I gave them a pass.
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2016: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Ali has won this award twice, and I dare not speak the other film’s name. But his performance in Moonlight truly represents a great supporting performance. In Moonlight Ali plays Juan, an adult who takes Chiron or “Little” in as a way to protect him. While Juan is only in a small portion of the film, his impact is tremendous. There is one scene where Chiron asks Juan, “What is a faggot?” and his pause and gentle and thoughtful support to Chiron leaves an indelible mark.
2007: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Bardem’s Anton Chigurgh leaves a chilling mark on the audience. There is not really a backstory for the character in the film; all we know is that he is a hitman hunting down money found by Josh Brolin’s Llwellen Moss. Bardem’s quiet approach to this sinister character leaves you hoping you never see him alone for him to flip his coin for your fate. There are numerous scenes that are quite unforgettable, but the best is the scene with Kelly Macdonald. You never see an ounce of humanity in him. It’s hard to nail this, but Bardem plays this role perfectly.
2002: Chris Cooper (Adaptation)
Chris Cooper may have been the first time (in my lifetime) where I felt like the Academy went with a fun, off-the-wall, and truly weird performance. Cooper plays John Laroche, a con man who connects with Meryl Streep’s Susan Orlean and Nicolas Cage as he tries to adapt this unadaptable book into a film. Cooper is one of those classic scene-stealing performers who bring dynamic humor and his unwieldy side to this incredible performance. This is truly one of the coolest wins in this category.
1972: Joel Grey (Cabaret)
In Cabaret, Grey plays the Emcee, one of the most iconic roles on the Broadway stage. He is one of the rare male winners for a musical, and there is a reason he beat out heavyweights from the first Godfather film: he is incredible in the role. Not only does Grey steal tons of scenes with impenetrable merriment, but it’s all underscored by his desire to keep the party going — but to what end? At the end of the closing song, Cabaret no longer represents the joy and fun of the nightlife, but the impending doom and rise of the Nazi party. Grey is a legend and this performance leaves a lasting impression.
1996: Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire)
We not only showed him the money, we showed him the Oscar. I have a feeling this pick is going to be controversial, but I re-watched Jerry Maguire recently and Rod Tidwell is not only hilarious, but brings the heart to Jerry’s cold world. Cuba Gooding Jr. is excellent in this film, a truly memorable performance that does not get enough praise for adding the vitality this film needs. It is the perfect supporting performance.
1971: Ben Johnson (The Last Picture Show)
The Last Picture Show is such an ensemble film, but it’s the monologue from Ben Johnson’s Sam the Lion that leaves a lasting impact for the young protagonist. His speech about not being able to keep up with the evolution of time could have a dated feel, but it’s really about appreciating your own youth and vitality, and living every day to the fullest. It’s a truly beautiful speech, and really breaks your heart.
2008: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
And here we go … I had to include him in the list, I just had to. A truly beautiful and sad win, one of two posthumous acting Oscar wins. Ledger’s death still breaks my heart, but his Oscar win is the only good win for playing the Joker. His take on this character has a similar tone and tenor to Bardem’s in No Country. These two wins are similar, and battled it out for a spot on this list, but I had to include them both, because they are both incredible wins. As the world was dealing with the different mindset of the way in which a villain worked, Ledger’s Joker has no qualms about playing every side. His nuance and mania make this a truly great Oscar-winning performance.
1990: Joe Pesci (Goodfellas)
He was not a clown, but he did make us laugh, and he truly earned this Oscar. Joe Pesci had a hell of a year between this and Home Alone. Pesci is one of the best performances to win this award, and his acceptance speech is short, simple, and to the point (one of my favorites). This is another great ensemble, but it’s Pesci’s standout moments that set him apart; he is truly a scene-stealer in this film. I love his performance, which blends maniacal humor with nuance.
1976: Jason Robards (All the President’s Men)
Robards won back-to-back Supporting Actor Oscars, a feat that has never been accomplished in the history of the award. He delivers unique performances in both Julia and All the President’s Men, but it’s his performance in Men that always springs to mind when I think about his career. Most of the men who win this award give bombastic performances, or their performances have a look-at-me element. Robard’s performance as Bradley is quite the opposite. His quiet stoicism and humor bring a steady balance to this film, and he truly gives one of the best performances in this category’s history.
1950: George Sanders (All About Eve)
Sanders is our narrator throughout Eve, and it feels odd that in a film about strong women, he was the only acting Oscar winner. But boy, am I glad he won. Sanders plays Addison DeWitt, a theater critic with a biting tongue, and who works to manipulate much of the plot throughout Eve. Sanders’ manipulations make him truly loathsome, but the web he weaves sets the whole film in motion and he is so fun to watch in this film.
2009: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Waltz is one of three men to have two wins on this list; I consider his second win in Django Unchained to be a great performance, but he is truly a lead. In Basterds, the film is a true ensemble but the evil of his character Hans Landa emanates throughout the film. I think the scene in the restaurant where he is eating and essentially playing with his food while he sits with Melanie Laurent’s character Shoshanna is one of the most chilling scenes of the 21st Century. Does Waltz know she was the young girl who escaped death at the beginning of the film? What will happen to her? Waltz got a bit pigeonholed in this type of work, but this performance and Oscar win is iconic (take a drink).
Who are YOUR favorite Best Supporting Actor winners? Leave a comment below!