Actress Natalie Wood sexily lounging on deck of sailboat.

Craig Davies for Art-Sheep

Did you know that actors and actresses like Richard Burton, Marlene Dietrich, Ava Gardner and Peter Sellers never won an Oscar?

Their talent and famous movie roles have won them recognition, a place in film history and the hearts of millions of fans, but never an Oscar. The Academy snubbed some these stars, by not even nominating them for the award. And while Peter Sellers had his two BAFTAs to suffice, many of these actors and actresses were terribly unlucky in their Hollywood careers.

via life

Natalie Wood, who received three nominations. Pictured at the Cannes FIlm Festival, 1962.
Paul Schutzer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Natalie Wood received three nominations /1962
Steve McQueen, who was nominated once. Pictured here during motorcycle racing across the Mojave Desert, 1963.
John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Steve McQueen was nominated once /1963
Rita Hayworth, who was never nominated. Pictured in 1945.
Bob Landry—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Rita Hayworth was never nominated / 1945
 Montgomery Clift, who was nominated four times. Pictired in <i>Red River</i>, 1948.
 J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Montgomery Clift was nominated four times / 1948
Jayne Mansfield, who was never nominated, though she once played violin in an orchestra performance at the Oscars. Pictured here posing with shapely hot water bottle likenesses floating around her in her pool, 1957.
Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Jayne Mansfield was never nominated / 1957
Richard Burton, who was nominated seven times. Pictured relaxing with a book in Cantina while on location filming <i>The Night of the Iguana</i>, 1963.
Gjon Mili—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Richard Burton was nominated seven times / 1963
Lena Horne, who was never nominated, though she was honored with a tribute at the 2011 Academy Awards. Pictured In Paris, 1947.
Yale Joel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Lena Horne was never nominated, though she was honored with a tribute at the 2011 Academy Awards /1947
Tony Curtis, who was nominated once. Pictured with his Rolls Royce, 1961.
Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Tony Curtis was nominated once /1961
Lana Turner, who was nominated once. Pictured here with John Garfield on Laguna Beach in a scene from <i>The Postman Always Rings Twice</i>, 1945.
Walter Sanders—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Lana Turner was nominated once / Here with John Garfield, 1945
Erroll Flynn, who was never nominated. Pictured aboard his yacht Sirocco, 1941.
 Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Erroll Flynn was never nominated /1941
Ava Gardner, who was nominated once. Pictured in <i>One Touch of Venus</i>, 1948.
J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Ava Gardner was nominated once / 1948
Peter Sellers, who was nominated three times. Pictured playing the piano at home with his wife, Britt Ekland, in Beverly Hills, 1964.
Allan Grant—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Peter Sellers was nominated three times / Here with his wife, Britt Ekland, 1964
Dorothy Dandridge, who was nominated once, becoming the first African-American to be nominated for a leading role (1955). Pictured posing in costume for <i>Tarzan's Peril</i>, 1951.
Ed Clark—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Dorothy Dandridge was nominated once and became the first African-American to be nominated for a leading role (1955) / 1951
Van Johnson, who was never nominated. Pictured duck hunting in a scene from the movie <i>Early to Bed</i>, 1945.
Martha Holmes—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Van Johnson  was never nominated / 1945
Kim Novak, who was never nominated, though she presented at the 2014 awards. Pictured performing the hoochie-coochie dance in the movie <i>Jeanne Eagels</i>, 1957.
J. R. Eyerman—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Kim Novak was never nominated / 1957
Douglas Fairbanks Jr., who was never nominated. Pictured in <i>Sinbad</i>, 1946.
Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was never nominated / 1946
Marlene Dietrich, who was nominated once. Pictured in evening dress and hat during Pierre Ball, 1928.
 Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Marlene Dietrich  was nominated once /1928
Robert Walker, who was never nominated. Pictured riding a tricycle with his two sons, 1943.
John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Robert Walker was never nominated / 1943
Janet Leigh, who was nominated once. Pictured posing in costume for <i>Jet Pilot</i>, 1950.
Ed Clark—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Janet Leigh was nominated once /1950

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