One would be hard pressed to find an event that brings more entertainers together in one place than the Academy Awards. Each year the ceremony is held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to “recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences,” assembling Hollywood’s biggest stars in the process.
The 92nd Academy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, and airing live on ABC, will be no exception. From the red carpet to the awards ceremony itself, viewers will get to see nearly all of Hollywood’s top brass, with this year’s nominees including Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and more.
As the awards ceremony nears, 24/7 Tempo has looked back at the past 92 years of awards and created an index of the most popular Oscar winners of all time. This list is based on the winners’ popularity and the appeal of their work among movie fans today.
Among the most popular Oscar winners are actors both young and old, as well as a number of directors. They also hail from all corners of the U.S., despite most now living in California. Here is the most famous actor from each state.
While fans and industry insiders frequently debate the merits of many Academy Award recipients, those featured here are the most popular — and therefore, at least in that respect, deserving of the distinction. There are many talented, Oscar-winning filmmakers who are not included here. See who won the Oscar for Best Director every year since the Oscars began here.
Click here to see the most popular Oscar winners of all time.
To identify the most popular Oscar winners of all time, 24/7 Tempo created an index based on two metrics of appeal: the popularity of the films and television shows each winner has appeared in or directed and the popularity of the winner’s Wikipedia page based on pageviews over the past two years.
The number of user votes a film or television episode received on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) was used as a proxy for a given winner’s popularity. A winner’s total popularity was determined by the sum of the votes the winner received for all the films and television episodes for which he or she is credited as being in a top-billed role or as director. Winners were only given credit for episodes of television series in which they appeared or they directed. IMDb vote counts for winners in starring roles were given equal weight in the index to Wikipedia pageviews. Wikipedia pageviews were collected for the two years ending Jan. 10, 2020. All Oscar data is from IMDb.com.
50. Audrey Hepburn
> Acting credits: 34
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,465,565
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Roman Holiday” (1954)
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49. Joe Pesci
> Acting credits: 40
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,403,086
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Goodfellas” (1991)
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48. Alicia Vikander
> Acting credits: 45
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,861,826
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Danish Girl” (2016)
47. Jamie Foxx
> Acting credits: 74
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,189,899
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Ray” (2005)
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46. Jane Fonda
> Acting credits: 56
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,290,083
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Klute” (1972)
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Coming Home” (1979)
45. Julianne Moore
> Acting credits: 96
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 3,477,437
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Still Alice” (2015)
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44. Jodie Foster
> Acting credits: 81
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,239,329
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Accused” (1989)
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Silence of the Lambs” (1992)
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43. Ron Howard
> Directing credits: 45
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,663,846
> Oscars won: 2
Best Director for “A Beautiful Mind” (2002)
Best Picture for “A Beautiful Mind” (2002)
42. Rachel Weisz
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,900,528
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Constant Gardener” (2006)
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41. Marlon Brando
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,233,710
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “On the Waterfront” (1955)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Godfather” (1973)
40. Reese Witherspoon
> Acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,188,947
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Walk the Line” (2006)
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39. Anthony Hopkins
> Acting credits: 138
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 4,245,475
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Silence of the Lambs” (1992)
38. Jennifer Connelly
> Acting credits: 52
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,079,658
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “A Beautiful Mind” (2002)
37. Cher
> Acting credits: 65
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,839,991
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Moonstruck” (1988)
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36. Michael Douglas
> Acting credits: 64
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,776,478
> Oscars won: 2
Best Picture for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1976)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Wall Street” (1988)
35. James Cameron
> Directing credits: 23
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,041,574
> Oscars won: 3
Best Director for “Titanic” (1998)
Best Picture for “Titanic” (1998)
Best Film Editing for “Titanic” (1998)
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34. Peter Jackson
> Directing credits: 23
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 2,036,378
> Oscars won: 3
Best Director for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004)
Best Picture for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004)
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004)
33. Russell Crowe
> Acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 3,711,572
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Gladiator” (2001)
32. Gary Oldman
> Acting credits: 102
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,455,881
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Darkest Hour” (2018)
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31. Gwyneth Paltrow
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,951,982
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Shakespeare in Love” (1999)
30. Meryl Streep
> Acting credits: 88
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,737,924
> Oscars won: 3
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1980)
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Sophie’s Choice” (1983)
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Iron Lady” (2012)
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29. Kate Winslet
> Acting credits: 63
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,949,400
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Reader” (2009)
28. Cate Blanchett
> Acting credits: 78
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,539,618
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Aviator” (2005)
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Blue Jasmine” (2014)
27. Sean Connery
> Acting credits: 94
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,483,979
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Untouchables” (1988)
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26. Emma Stone
> Acting credits: 48
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,456,280
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “La La Land” (2017)
25. Julia Roberts
> Acting credits: 63
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,022,577
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Erin Brockovich” (2001)
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24. Nicole Kidman
> Acting credits: 87
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,700,297
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Hours” (2003)
23. Jack Nicholson
> Acting credits: 78
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,879,615
> Oscars won: 3
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1976)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Terms of Endearment” (1984)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “As Good as It Gets” (1998)
22. Matthew McConaughey
> Acting credits: 70
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,099,277
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Dallas Buyers Club” (2014)
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21. Denzel Washington
> Acting credits: 58
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,770,303
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Glory” (1990)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Training Day” (2002)
20. George Clooney
> Acting credits: 92
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,893,047
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Syriana” (2006)
Best Picture for “Argo” (2013)
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19. Martin Scorsese
> Directing credits: 65
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,299,241
> Oscars won: 1
Best Achievement in Directing for “The Departed” (2007)
18. Anne Hathaway
> Acting credits: 47
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,087,946
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Les Misérables” (2013)
17. Charlize Theron
> Acting credits: 65
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,423,024
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Monster” (2004)
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16. Sandra Bullock
> Acting credits: 58
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,058,242
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “The Blind Side” (2010)
15. Brie Larson
> Acting credits: 63
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 14,404,649
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Room” (2016)
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14. Nicolas Cage
> Acting credits: 103
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,559,468
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Leaving Las Vegas” (1996)
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13. Robin Williams
> Acting credits: 107
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,924,054
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Good Will Hunting” (1998)
12. Angelina Jolie
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 11,226,277
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Girl, Interrupted” (2000)
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11. Jennifer Lawrence
> Acting credits: 33
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,272,220
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013)
10. Heath Ledger
> Acting credits: 23
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 12,088,905
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Dark Knight” (2009)
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9. Al Pacino
> Acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,158,431
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Scent of a Woman” (1993)
8. Morgan Freeman
> Acting credits: 126
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,397,378
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “Million Dollar Baby” (2005)
7. Natalie Portman
> Acting credits: 66
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,859,472
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Black Swan” (2011)
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6. Christian Bale
> Acting credits: 53
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,418,809
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Fighter” (2011)
5. Steven Spielberg
> Directing credits: 58
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,603,074
> Oscars won: 3
Best Director for “Schindler’s List” (1994)
Best Picture for “Schindler’s List” (1994)
Best Director for “Saving Private Ryan” (1999)
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4. Clint Eastwood
> Directing credits: 41
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 16,154,776
> Oscars won: 3
Best Director for “Unforgiven” (1993)
Best Picture for “Unforgiven” (1993)
Best Achievement in Directing for “Million Dollar Baby” (2005)
3. Robert De Niro
> Acting credits: 120
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,790,875
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Godfather: Part II” (1975)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Raging Bull” (1981)
2. Tom Hanks
> Acting credits: 91
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,439,978
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Philadelphia” (1994)
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Forrest Gump” (1995)
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1. Leonardo DiCaprio
> Acting credits: 55
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 13,712,157
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Revenant” (2016)
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