Jeff Bridges (2009)

“Bad Blake” in Crazy Heart
(Credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Sean Penn (2008)

“Harvey Milk” in Milk.
(Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Daniel Day Lewis (2007)

“Daniel Plainview” in There Will Be Blood.
(Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Forest Whitaker (2006)

“Idi Amin” in The Last King Of Scotland
(Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005)

“Truman Capote” in Capote.
(Credit: AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY)

Jamie Foxx (2004)

Accompanied by his daughter Corrine Marie, Foxx wins the Actor Oscar for “Ray Charles” in Ray.
(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Sean Penn (2003)

“Jimmy Markum” in Mystic River.
(Credit: Jeff HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)

Adrien Brody (2002)

“Wladyslaw Szpilman” in The Pianist.
(Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Denzel Washington (2001)

“Alonzo” in Training Day.
(Credit: LEE CELANO/AFP/Getty Images)

Russell Crowe (2000)

“Maximus Decimus Meridius” in Gladiator.
(Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
AngeleS 25 March, 2001. AFP PHOTO Timothy A. CLARY/mn (Photo credit should read)

Kevin Spacey (1999)

“Lester Burnham” in American Beauty.
(Credit: Associated Press)

Roberto Benigni (1998)

“Guido” in Life Is Beautiful
(Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Jack Nicholson (1997)

“Melvin Udall” in As Good As It Gets.
(Credit: HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Geoffrey Rush (1996)

“David Helfgott” in Shine.
(Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Nicolas Cage (1995)

“Ben Sanderson” in Leaving Las Vegas.
(Credit: KIM KULISH/AFP/Getty Images)

Tom Hanks (1994)

“Andrew Beckett” in Philadelphia.
(Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images)

Tom Hanks (1993)

“Forrest Gump” in Forrest Gump
(Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Al Pacino (1992)

“Lt. Col. Frank Slade” in Scent of a Woman.
(Credit: HAL GARB/AFP/Getty Images)

Anthony Hopkins (1991)

“Dr. Hannibal Lecter” in The Silence of the Lambs.
(Credit: Associated Press)

Jeremy Irons (1990)

“Claus Von Bulow” in Reversal of Fortune.
(Credit: Associated Press)

Daniel Day Lewis (1989)

“Christy Brown” in My Left Foot.
(Credit: Barry King/Getty Images)

Dustin Hoffman (1988)

Hoffman stands with Tom Cruise and his Best Actor Oscar for the role of “Raymond Babbitt” in Rain Main.
(Credit: Barry King/Getty Images)

Michael Douglas (1987)

Accompanied by actress Marlee Matlin, Michael Douglas wins best actor for the role of “Gordon Gekko” in Wall Street.
(Credit: SCOTT FLYNN/AFP/Getty Images)

Paul Newman (1986)

“Eddie Felson” in The Color Of Money.
(Credit: RonGalella/Getty Images)

William Hurt (1985)

“Luis Molina” in Kiss of the Spider Woman
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

F. Murray Abraham (1984)

“Antonio Salieri” in Amadeus.
(Credit: Associated Press)

Robert Duvall (1983)

“Mac Sledge” in Tender Mercies
(Credit: Ron Galella/Getty Images)

Ben Kingsley (1982)

“Mahatma Gandhi” in Gandhi
(Credit: Associated Press)

Henry Fonda (1981)

Henry Fonda for Norman Thayer Jr. in On Golden Pond with his daughter Jane.
(Credit: Associated Press)

Robert DeNiro (1980)

Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull”.
(Credit: Ron Galella/Getty Images)