20 Old Hollywood icons who were never nominated for an Oscar

Despite her unparalleled notoriety, even to this day, Marilyn Monroe wasn't recognized by the Academy during her life for her contributions to film. But she remains an icon, and Monroe’s best movies are still watched today. 

Mae West is another blonde bombshell of the Old Hollywood era. She didn’t appear in a film until she was 40 years old, but she was so magnetic on screen that her age didn’t matter. Still, she never received an Oscar nomination. 

The Academy has been shutting out comedians since its inception. Groucho Marx was never nominated for an Oscar during his brilliant career. He did, however, receive an honorary Oscar near the end of his life for his contributions to the craft. 

Another famed Marx brother, Harpo Marx, was never nominated for an Oscar, either. And unlike his younger brother Groucho, Harpo never received an honorary Oscar. 

Rita Hayworth was known for her beauty, and that drew attention to her films. She never received an Oscar nomination during her life, but she did win two Golden Apple Awards for Least Cooperative Actress, so do what you will with that information.   

If you think you’re unfamiliar with Peter Lorre as an actor, think again. Among his film resume are Casablanca, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Maltese Falcon. He was cast in iconic films, but Lorre was never nominated for an Oscar. 

John Barrymore never received an Oscar nomination during his career, but he continued his family’s tradition of a life in the arts, and he fathered John Drew Barrymore, who fathered Drew Barrymore, so John’s contributions to Hollywood were certainly noted. 

Bob Hope was never nominated for a competitive Oscar, but he received a multitude of honorary awards from the Academy during his career. Competitive Oscar or not, the industry wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for Hope’s influence. 

Vincent Price had an incredibly fruitful career. He amassed over 200 professional acting credits throughout his career (Edward Scissorhands being one of his last film appearances), and he never retired. Unfortunately, he never received an Oscar nomination, either. 

Jean Harlow’s career was quite successful while she was at it, but her life was tragically cut short. She died at age 26, so she didn’t have the chance to fully develop her acting talent. 

Jayne Mansfield’s life also ended tragically early, so she never had the chance to see all she was capable of. While she never received an Oscar nomination, she did win a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Female. 

Elvis Presley is better remembered for his singing career, but his acting career played a major part in his massive fame. Presley was never rewarded with an Oscar nomination, but he did take home two separate Golden Apples for Least Cooperative Actor. 

Shirley Temple was one of the original child stars, proving to an entire generation that kids can be just as powerful on screen as adults. She was never nominated for a competitive Oscar, but she did receive the Juvenile Award at the 1935 Oscars. 

Rosemary Clooney’s career yo-yoed a bit due to some personal struggles, but she still died an icon thanks to her appearance in films like White Christmas. Though she never received an Oscar nomination, she did receive one of her three Emmy nominations for her work on ER, a show famously led by her nephew George Clooney, who has two Oscars. 

Dean Martin had quite a career. He notched four Emmy nominations by the time it was all said and done, though never an Oscar nomination. And like some others on this list, he was also the recipient of a Golden Apple, but unlike some others, his was for Most Cooperative Actor. 

What movie is Joseph Cotten best known for, you ask? Oh, just Citizen Kane, widely considered the best movie ever made. The film had nine Oscar nominations, but Cotten was not attached to any of them. 

Edward G. Robinson’s career was immense. He was a highly regarded actor during his time, and while he never received an Oscar nomination in a competitive category, he did receive an honorary award from the Academy just months after his death. 

Kim Novak was another great actress, best known for her work in Vertigo. The role sadly didn’t earn her an Oscar nomination, but she did get a Most Cooperative Actress Golden Apple. 

Hedy Lamarr had a promising acting career during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and she’s still recognized for her talent today. She never received an Oscar nomination, and her career in entertainment ended rather prematurely as she pursued an inventing career. 

Myrna Loy is a veritable Hollywood icon, best known for her work in The Thin Man franchise. She was never honored with an Oscar nomination, but her life’s work was recognized by the Academy with an honorary award the year of her death.