2020 Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor

It’s nearly time to meet the Oscars class of 2020. This year’s Academy Awards caps off an abbreviated awards season — the show will air on Feb. 9, weeks earlier than usual — and ET has been here the entire time, sussing out Oscar fortunes. On Jan. 13, the Academy will announce their nominations, but before then, take one final look at our predictions for who is in the running for Best Supporting Actor.

This year’s Best Supporting Actor race is shaping up to be a who’s who of Academy favorites. Even the wunderkind of the group, Timothée Chalamet, already has an Oscar nomination to his name. With two spots seemingly reserved for legends and The Irishman co-stars Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, who else will make the cut? Neither Willem Dafoe nor Sam Rockwell can seem to miss with the Academy is recent years, while America’s most beloved actor, Tom Hanks, is up for his first nomination in over a decade.

Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Song Kang Ho, Parasite
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Timothée Chalamet, Little Women
Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse
Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Sam Rockwell, Richard Jewell

Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress

Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment

Laurie, a neighbor and friend to the March sisters and admirer of Jo — though we all know who he ends up with.

One nomination, for Best Actor in Call Me By Your Name (2018).

 

Image via A24

Thomas Wake, the keeper of the titular lighthouse who slowly goes mad once isolated with Robert Pattinson’s journeyman assistant.

Four nominations, for Best Supporting Actor in Platoon (1987), Shadow of the Vampire (2001) and The Florida Project (2018) and Best Actor in At Eternity’s Gate (2019).

Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Walter McMillian, the wrongfully-convicted death row inmate whom Michael B. Jordan’s attorney character is fighting to free.

One win, for Best Actor in Ray (2005), with an additional nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Collateral (2005).

SAG Awards – Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee)

Image via Sony Pictures

Fred Rogers, America’s most beloved children’s television host and subject of an Esquire profile about heroes.

Two wins, for Best Actor in Philadelphia (1994) and in Forrest Gump (1995), with three additional nominations, for Best Actor in Big (1989), Saving Private Ryan (1999) and Cast Away (2001).

BAFTA Awards – Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Golden Globes — Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
SAG Awards – Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee)

Image via Netflix

Pope Benedict XVI, the outgoing, old school pope who must contend with the arrival of “Cool Pope” Francis to the Vatican.

One win, for Best Actor in The Silence of the Lambs (1992), with three additional nominations for Best Actor in The Remains of the Day (1994) and Nixon (1996) and Best Supporting Actor in Amistad (1998).

BAFTA Awards – Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Golden Globes — Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)

Image via NEON

Kim Ki-taek, the mostly-unemployed patriarch of the Kim family who schemes his way into a peachy new gig as chauffeur to a wealthy businessman.

This would be Kang Ho’s first nomination.

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Winner)
National Society of Film Critics – Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up)

Image via Netflix

Jimmy Hoffa, the crooked Teamster leader whose disappearance in 1975 remains unsolved to this day.

One win, for Best Actor in Scent of a Woman (1993), with seven additional nominations, for Best Supporting Actor in The Godfather (1973), Best Actor in Serpico (1974), The Godfather: Part II (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1976), …and justice for all. (1980), Best Supporting Actor in Dick Tracy (1991) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1993).

BAFTA Awards – Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Golden Globes — Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Hollywood Film Awards – Hollywood Supporting Actor Award (Winner)
SAG Awards – Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee)

Image via Netflix

Russell Bufalino, head of the notorious Bufalino mob family and mentor to Robert De Niro’s character within the world of organized crime.

One win, for Best Supporting Actor in Goodfellas (1991), with an additional nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Raging Bull (1981).

BAFTA Awards – Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Golden Globes — Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up)
National Society of Film Critics – Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up)
New York Film Critics Circle – Best Supporting Actor (Winner)
SAG Awards – Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee)

Image via Sony Pictures

Cliff Booth, the longtime stunt double to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character who unwittingly runs afoul of the Manson Family.

 Three nominations, for Best Supporting Actor in Twelve Monkeys (1996), and Best Actor in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009) and Moneyball (2012).

BAFTA Awards – Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards – Best Supporting Actor (Nominee)
Golden Globes — Best Supporting Actor (Winner)
National Board of Review – Best Supporting Actor (Winner)
National Society of Film Critics – Best Supporting Actor (Winner)
SAG Awards – Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee)

[This story was originally published on December 10, 2019.]

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