(The Theory of Everything (2014), The Danish Girl (2015)) Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line (2005), Joker (2019)) Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Moneyball (2011)) Geoffrey Rush (Shine (1996), Quills (2000)) Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), King Richard (2021)) Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland (2006), The Butler (2013)) Three nominations George Clooney (Michael Clayton (2007), Up in the Air (2009), The Descendants (2011)) Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007), Lincoln (2012)) Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), Black Mass (2015)) Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson (2006), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), La La Land (2016)) Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises (2007), Captain Fantastic (2016), Green Book (2018)) Four nominations Russell Crowe (The Insider (1999), Gladiator (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005)) Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), Captain Phillips (2013)) Sean Penn (Dead Man Walking (1995), I Am Sam (2001), Mystic River (2003), Milk (2008)) Five nominations Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator (2004), Blood Diamond (2006), J. Edgar (2011), The Revenant (2015), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)) Six nominations Denzel Washington (The Hurricane (1999), Training Day (2001), Flight (2012), Fences (2016), Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017), The Tragedy of Macbeth'' (2021)) See also Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead External links SAG Awards official site Male Actor Leading Role Film awards for lead actor