In this article, we list the celebrated actors who were nominated for (and won) an Academy Award for the movies made between 1970 and 1989.
Did your favourite actors miss out on an Oscar? Let us know in the comments below.
43rd Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1970
Nominated Actors
George C. Scott – Patton
Jack Nicholson – Five Easy Pieces
James Earl Jones – The Great White Hope
Melvyn Douglas – I Never Sang For My Father
Ryan O’Neal – Love Story
Best Actor Winner
George C. Scott – Patton
44th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1971
Nominated Actors
Chaim Topol – Fiddler on the Roof
Gene Hackman – The French Connection
George C. Scott – The Hospital
Peter Finch – Sunday Bloody Sunday
Walter Matthau – Kotch
Best Actor Winner
Gene Hackman – The French Connection
45th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1972
Nominated Actors
Laurence Olivier – Sleuth
Marlon Brando – The Godfather
Michael Caine – Sleuth
Paul Winfield – Sounder
Peter O’Toole – The Ruling Class
Best Actor Winner
Marlon Brando – The Godfather
46th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1973
Nominated Actors
Al Pacino – Serpico
Jack Lemmon – Save the Tiger
Jack Nicholson – The Last Detail
Marlon Brando – Last Tango in Paris
Robert Redford – The Sting
Best Actor Winner
Jack Lemmon – Save the Tiger
47th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1974
Nominated Actors
Albert Finney – Murder on the Orient Express
Al Pacino – The Godfather Part II
Art Carney – Harry and Tonto
Dustin Hoffman – Lenny
Jack Nicholson – Chinatown
Best Actor Winner
Art Carney – Harry and Tonto
48th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1975
Nominated Actors
Al Pacino – Dog Day Afternoon
Jack Nicholson – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
James Whitmore – Give ’em Hell, Harry!
Maximillian Schell – The Man in the Glass Booth
Walter Matthau – The Sunshine Boys
Best Actor Winner
Jack Nicholson – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
49th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1976
Nominated Actors
Giancarlo Giannini – Seven Beauties
Peter Finch – Network
Robert De Niro – Taxi Driver
Sylvester Stallone – Rocky
William Holden – Network
Best Actor Winner
Peter Finch – Network
50th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1977
Nominated Actors
John Travolta – Saturday Night Fever
Marcello Mastroianni – A Special Day
Richard Burton – Equus
Richard Dreyfuss – The Goodbye Girl
Woody Allen – Annie Hall
Best Actor Winner
Richard Dreyfuss – The Goodbye Girl
51st Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1978
Nominated Actors
Gary Busey – The Buddy Holly Story
Jon Voight – Coming Home
Laurence Olivier – The Boys from Brazil
Robert De Niro – The Deer Hunter
Warren Beatty – Heaven Can Wait
Best Actor Winner
Jon Voight – Coming Home
52nd Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1979
Nominated Actors
Al Pacino – …And Justice For All
Dustin Hoffman – Kramer vs. Kramer
Jack Lemmon – The China Syndrome
Peter Sellers – Being There
Roy Scheider – All That Jazz
Best Actor Winner
Dustin Hoffman – Kramer vs. Kramer
53rd Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1980
Nominated Actors
Jack Lemmon – Tribute
John Hurt – The Elephant Man
Peter O’Toole – The Stunt Man
Robert De Niro – Raging Bull
Robert Duvall – The Great Santini
Best Actor Winner
Robert De Niro – The Raging Bull
54th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1981
Nominated Actors
Burt Lancaster – Atlantic City
Dudley Moore – Arthur
Henry Fonda – On Golden Pond
Paul Newman – Absence of Malice
Warren Beatty – Reds
Best Actor Winner
Henry Fonda – On Golden Pond
55th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1982
Nominated Actors
Ben Kingsley – Gandhi
Dustin Hoffman – Tootsie
Jack Lemmon – Missing
Paul Newman – The Verdict
Peter O’Toole – My Favorite Year
Best Actor Winner
Ben Kingsley – Gandhi
56th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1983
Nominated Actors
Albert Finney – The Dresser
Michael Caine – Educating Rita
Robert Duvall – Tender Mercies
Tom Conti – Reuben, Reuben
Tom Courtenay – The Dresser
Best Actor Winner
Robert Duvall – Tender Mercies
57th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1984
Nominated Actors
Albert Finney – Under the Volcano
F. Murray Abraham – Amadeus
Jeff Bridges – Starman
Tom Hulce – Amadeus
Sam Waterston – The Killing Fields
Best Actor Winner
F. Murray Abraham – Amadeus
58th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1985
Nominated Actors
Jack Nicholson – Prizzi’s Honor
James Garner – Murphy’s Romance
Jon Voight – Runaway Train
Harrison Ford – Witness
William Hurt – Kiss of the Spider Woman
Best Actor Winner
William Hurt – Kiss of the Spider Woman
59th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1986
Nominated Actors
Bob Hoskins – Mona Lisa
Dexter Gordon – Round Midnight
James Woods – Salvador
Paul Newman – The Color of Money
William Hurt – Children of a Lesser God
Best Actor Winner
Paul Newman – The Color of Money
60th Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1987
Nominated Actors
Jack Nicholson – Ironweed
Marcello Mastroianni – Dark Eyes
Michael Douglas – Wall Street
Robin Williams – Good Morning, Vietnam
William Hurt – Broadcast News
Best Actor Winner
Michael Douglas – Wall Street
61st Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1988
Nominated Actors
Dustin Hoffman – Rain Man
Edward James Olmos – Stand and Deliver
Gene Hackman – Mississippi Burning
Max von Sydow – Pelle the Conqueror
Tom Hanks – Big
Best Actor Winner
Dustin Hoffman – Rain Man
62nd Academy Awards
Best Actor: Films of 1989
Nominated Actors
Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot
Kenneth Branagh – Henry V
Morgan Freeman – Driving Miss Daisy
Robin Williams – Dead Poets Society
Tom Cruise – Born on the Fourth of July
Best Actor Winner
Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot
How many of these movies have you seen? Let us know in the comments below.