10 Actors Who Won Oscars For The Wrong Movie
8. Jack Nicholson - As Good As It Gets
Jack Nicholson is arguably the greatest of Hollywood's greats - an actor whose presence during the rise of New Hollywood helped pave the way for a whole generation of performers, and whose films have aged like fine wine thanks to his timeless on screen persona.
His role as Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets won Nicholson his third of three Oscars, following One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Terms of Endearment. And though As Good As It Gets is not a bad role for the actor, he was far more deserving of an Oscar statue earlier in career, for such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Carnal Knowledge or The Shining.
His performance as Melvin allowed him to lean into his cynical, comedic side as well as giving him the chance to show off his typically strong dramatic chops, and the balance was brilliant.
But considering the longevity of his career and the numerous iconic roles he has played throughout it, to think he won an award for As Good As It Gets but didn't for any of his roles in the previously mentioned films, is a little bit of a disappointment.