The impressive Oscars record only held by Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine

Are the Oscars a true sign of someone’s greatness? While many incredible actors have rightly won golden statuettes for their incredible performances, there are many who have been snubbed throughout cinema history, from Marlene Dietrich to Cary Grant, proving that it really is just luck of the draw sometimes. 

However, this doesn’t negate the fact that earning an Oscar nomination is certainly impressive, and there are some actors who have proved their brilliance by earning more nominations than they can count on one hand. The most-nominated actor of all time is Meryl Streep, who has earned a whopping 21 during her career, winning three for Kramer vs Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, and The Iron Lady.

While she holds the most acting nominations overall, there are various other records that have been achieved by stars over the years, like Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda becoming the first father and daughter to be nominated for awards for the same film (in their case, On Golden Pond). 

Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine, two legendary actors who both started their careers in the 1950s before breaking through in the 1960s, also share a unique record. While Nicholson appeared in various American counterculture films, like Hells Angels on Wheels and Easy Rider (as well as writing The Trip), Caine was a symbol of Britain’s swinging sixties, appearing in movies like Alfie, The Ipcress File, and The Italian Job.

The pair have appeared in one film together before, Blood and Wine, a strange movie released in 1996 that was not received particularly well. It was directed by Bob Rafelson, who helmed the classic Five Easy Pieces with Nicholson in 1970, but it looks more like the kind of DVD you’d find in a clearance bin rather than a film starring some of the industry’s most acclaimed stars.

Unsurprisingly, neither Nicholson or Caine were Oscar-nominated for the film, but the pair have both been nominated for many other movies, allowing them to share a pretty impressive record. Both actors have been nominated for performances in movies released in every decade between the 1960s and the 2000s, although Nicholson has considerably more nominations – 12 to be precise. Still, Caine has got six to his name, which isn’t too shabby.

Nicholson’s first nomination came in 1969 with Easy Rider, in which he played George, a lawyer that Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda’s characters meet in jail. It wasn’t until 1976 that Nicholson won his first Oscar, however, which came with his fifth nomination for One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Since then, he has also won for 1984’s Terms of Endearment and 1998’s As Good as It Gets, with his most recent nomination being 2003’s About Schmidt.

Meanwhile, Caine earned his first nomination in 1966 with Alfie, eventually winning his first in 1986 for Hannah and Her Sisters. He wasn’t nominated again until 1999 for The Cider House Rules, only just keeping up his streak. The actor actually won the award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ that year, and he went on to receive another nomination in 2002 for The Quiet American.