Laurence Olivier was one of the greatest Actors of his generation!
A 10-Time Oscar Nominee!
With 10 Oscar nominations! That means this is a very important moment in the history of film! There was such a remarkable talent at play. It looks like Olivier was honored throughout his entire career!
While he starred in many awesome, well known, Movies! His greatest roles might be seen in:
- Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, 1949, which featured an awesome plot twist!
- Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far, in 1977, another great thriller!
- A truly iconic role was in Sleuth in 1972 alongside Michael Caine, another great and memorable actor!
- Wuthering Heights in 1939, which earned Olivier his first nomination.
- The film Spartacus by Stanley Kubrick in 1960, really gave this genre some exciting elements that would help create another legendary moment in film.
But all these roles came to one awesome moment. The time Laurence Olivier won for Best Actor, for Hamlet, in 1948!
The Best Actor Race
While Olivier might have had some legendary films, it is pretty unique to note that it looks like the Academy was happy to honor him as an Actor!
To really make this standout it looks like there is only one other actor, Spencer Tracey who has had 9 Best Actor nominations.
However, his career might stand out for its interesting history: It appears he had a 10% win rate! While other great actors did have impressive roles, "Hamlet" was the only role that could earn the top award.
You can see that from other great performers. Those who got several nominations but never took home the prize! To list some who had that amazing ability to get recognized.
- Peter O'Toole had 8
- Glenn Close was recognized 8 times!
- Amy Adams made it with 6 Oscar nominations.
- Bradley Cooper, was nominated for 12 awards, and 5 of them were for acting roles.
It looks like Oliver's lone award kept him away from joining this amazing group, but one thing that makes it memorable. If you want to really celebrate the highest awards, and someone with great accolades, Meryl Streep, received a record breaking, 21 acting nominations.
Why Oliver Didn't Win Again:
To explore why Oliver only won once. Fans were sure that Oliver was destined to get even more than "Hamlet." But what might be one of the big factors is just how talented, amazing and powerful, Marlon Brando is! Fans love Brando who was the recipient of the best actor in 1972 for his role in The Godfather. It seemed everyone was on edge, waiting to see who the winner would be, as they were really anticipating another great role in his acting repertoire.
The same fate was there for Oliver for the role of "Richard III"! Many felt that Oliver deserved the prize, even as a director and actor! It's something that would be remembered and make a big splash, as well.
There are some interesting questions for any movie buff. One is: why was "Othello," never honored with this coveted award.
In an amazing moment. He lost this award to Lee Marvin in 1965 and Marvin won for the part he played in "Cat Ballou," playing two completely distinct roles. It makes the world of awards, very unpredictable for everyone, but what this gives us is a glimpse at how powerful actors' contributions to movies continue to impress and capture attention.
One thing that is pretty amazing for Oliver's place in history! This was truly a special talent, even though he may have not gotten those second awards!
He received 2 honorary Academy Awards. That means that the Academy loved his contributions as a whole, giving him a grand honor.
While "Hamlet" might be his greatest hit! There is so much to explore! To help get a broader understanding! He got 5 Emmy awards! The show The Moon and Sixpence from 1959 was his first and then for "Love Among the Ruins," which won in 1975.
There are just some epic talents and while Oliver, had an exciting career! His absence from winning again shows just how difficult it really is to achieve this goal for any of these incredible talents. However, the success of Laurence Oliver's performances across movies and television has truly made an imprint that will be cherished by audiences!
Even for Oliver fans. You should still take the opportunity to explore his vast collection of films. There's so much out there for you to explore. This will give a new view of this amazing actor, even after his death on July 1, 1989,! And even at age 82, his talents will always be celebrated!
