The Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture is an annual award given by the International Press Academy as one of its Satellite Awards. The category has gone through several changes since its inception. From 1996 to 2010, two categories based on genre were presented, Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and Best Actor – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical In 2011, the IPA pared down its Satellite nominations in the motion picture categories from 22 to 19 classifications; the change reflects the merger of drama and comedy under a general Best Picture heading, including the Best Actor/Actress headings and the Supporting headings. In 2016 and 2017, two winners were announced within the Best Actor category, one for the performance by an actor in a major studio film and other for a performance in an independent film. Since 2018, the two categories based on genre are presented replacing the Best Actor in a Motion Picture category for the Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and Best Actor – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical categories previously presented. Winners and nominees Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (1996–2010, 2018–present) Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (1996–2010, 2018–present) Best Actor – Motion Picture (2011–2017) Multiple nominations 8 nominations Leonardo DiCaprio 7 nominations Denzel Washington 6 nominations Ryan Gosling 5 nominations Johnny Depp 4 nominations Russell Crowe Daniel Day-Lewis Jake Gyllenhaal Sean Penn Viggo Mortensen Joaquin Phoenix 3 nominations Billy Bob Thornton Matt Damon Brendan Gleeson Edward Norton Tom Hanks Gary Oldman Eddie Murphy Bradley Cooper Steve Carell Bill Murray Mark Ruffalo Colin Firth Tommy Lee Jones Jack Nicholson George Clooney Christian Bale 2 nominations Geoffrey Rush Michael Caine Robert Redford Philip Seymour Hoffman Robin Williams Jeremy Renner Josh Brolin Frank Langella William H. Macy Kevin Kline Will Smith Richard Gere Sam Rockwell Adam Sandler Robert Duvall Lin-Manuel Miranda Andrew Garfield Jeff Bridges Forest Whitaker Tom Cruise Jim Carrey Benedict Cumberbatch James Franco Michael Douglas Javier Bardem Don Cheadle Eddie Redmayne Paul Giamatti Tom Hardy Michael Fassbender Robert Downey Jr. Sacha Baron Cohen Michael Cera Multiple wins 2 wins Geoffrey Rush Viggo Mortensen Philip Seymour Hoffman Ryan Gosling Andrew Garfield See also Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor References External links Official