See every Best Actor Oscar winner from 1929 onward, from the first honoree Emil Jannings to recent recipients such as Will Smith, Brendan Fraser and Cillian Murphy.

EW ranks the top 30 Academy Award-winning performances in the Best Actor category, including those from Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, and Cillian Murphy.

While some stars collected statues like souvenirs, others, despite decades of iconic roles and critical acclaim, have lingered in the shadows of Academy recognition. These actors shaped cinema with transformative performances,