8 Actors Who Should Have Won Oscars (But Never Will)

3. Bill Murray

Why They Should Have Won: If any actor deserves to win an Oscar just for being themselves, it's Bill Murray, the famously friendly, down-to-earth actor known for showing up in random places and having an all around great time. Sadly, that's not how Oscars work.

Though largely known for his comedy roles (Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters) Murray received critical acclaim for his starring role as Bob Harris in 2003's Lost In Translation. Murray was celebrated for portraying Harris as humorous, poignant and endlessly subtle. Many believed Murray's performance to be much stronger than Sean Penn's, who won the year Murray was nominated for his role in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River. Murray's victory was reportedly so certain that the actor didn't applaud victor Sean Penn. Why They Never Will: It's the classic case of a comedic actor finding a character that facilitates all their strengths. Murray emerged from his typical, bumbling roles to capture audiences in Lost In Translation, and though he has continued to mix heavier drama into his roles (his collaboration with director Wes Anderson is a continued joy) there just hasn't been much in the way of opportunity. Now too old to play the leading man, Murray's best shot at bagging an Oscar is through a supporting role, but a quick look at some of his more recent work shows a lot of comedy, critically panned drama and voice work.