Best Supporting Actor in the 80s: An Alternative Oscar History
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 8:30PM 
As in real life, Jack Nicholson takes a Best Supporting Actor prize during the 1980s. But not for TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, however.
November is coming to an end and so is our 80s throwback celebration. That means I have to wrap-up these alternative Oscars posts. After sharing personal ballots for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, it’s time for the other acting categories, starting with the thespians who enrich their films from the sidelines. As ever, the ballots presented follow Oscar eligibility rules, all its quirks and oddities. There are also honorable mentions, some ineligible gems who weren’t up for the Oscar due to release date shenanigans or a lack of submission on their distributors’ part. Finally, I also added a number of titles on my watchlist and would appreciate all your recommendations to enrich these dream Oscars of mine…
1980
Rock Hudson, THE MIRROR CRACK’D
Tommy Lee Jones, COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER *winner*
Peter O’Toole, THE STUNT MAN
Joe Pesci, RAGING BULL
Tsutomu Yamazaki, KAGEMUSHA
Honorable Mentions: Brian Blessed in FLASH GORDON, Dabney Coleman in NINE TO FIVE, Harrison Ford in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Leslie Nielsen in AIRPLANE!.
Ineligible: Heinz Bennent and Jean Poiret in THE LAST METRO, Christopher Plummer in THE SHADOW BOX.
On the Watchlist: Brian Brown in BREAKER MORANT, Rentaro Mikuni in VENGEANCE IS MINE, Jason Miller and Scott Wilson in THE NINTH CONFIGURATION, Harry Dean Stanton in WISE BLOOD.
1981
Wilford Brimley, ABSENCE OF MALICE
Michael Ironside, SCANNERS
Jack Nicholson, REDS *winner*
Robert Prosky, THIEF
Howard Rollins, RAGTIME
Honorable Mentions: Alan Bates in QUARTET, Eric Roberts in RAGGEDY MAN, Christopher Walken in HEAVEN’S GATE and PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, David Warner in TIME BANDITS.
Ineligible: Heinz Bennent in POSSESSION, Rolf Hoppe in MEPHISTO.
On the Watchlist: Lee Van Cleef in ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, Gene Hackman and Terence Stamp in SUPERMAN II, Rutger Hauer in NIGHTHAWKS, Jerry Orbach in PRINCE OF THE CITY, Oliver Reed in LION OF THE DESERT.
1982
Mario Adorf, LOLA
Rutger Hauer, BLADE RUNNER
David Keith, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
James Mason, THE VERDICT *winner*
Sydney Pollack, TOOTSIE
Honorable Mentions: Wilford Brimley and Keith David in THE THING, Louis Gossett Jr. in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, Robert Preston in VICTOR/VICTORIA.
Ineligible: Antonio Banderas in LABYRINTH OF PASSION, Spanky Manikan in HIMALA.
On the Watchlist: Charles Durning in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, James Earl Jones in CONAN THE BARBARIAN, Ricardo Montalban in STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, Mickey Rourke in DINER, Ryudo Uzaki in STATION.
1983
Jeff Daniels, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
Jan Malmsjö, FANNY AND ALEXANDER *winner*
Mickey Rourke, RUMBLE FISH
Ryuichi Sakamoto, MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE
Rip Torn, CROSS CREEK
Honorable Mentions: Takeshi Kitano in MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE, Jerry Lewis in THE KING OF COMEDY, Martin Mull in MR. MOM, Kurt Russell in SILKWOOD.
Ineligible: Jean-Pierre Bacri and Guy Marchand in ENTRE NOUS, Erland Josephson in NOSTALGIA.
On the Watchlist: Matt Dillon in THE OUTSIDERS, Gene Hackman and Ed Harris in UNDER FIRE, Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards in SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
1984
Richard Burton, NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR *winner*
John Candy, SPLASH
Gregory Hines, THE COTTON CLUB
Kenneth McMillan, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
Anthony Perkins, CRIMES OF PASSION
Honorable Mentions: Adolph Caesar and Denzel Washington in A SOLDIER’S STORY, Robert Englund in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, Christopher Guest, Tony Hendra and Harry Shearer in THIS IS SPINAL TAP, Douta Seck in SUGAR CANE ALLEY, Dean Stockwell in PARIS, TEXAS, James Woods in ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA.
Ineligible: Michel Piccoli in SUCCESS IS THE BEST REVENGE.
On the Watchlist: François Cluzet in ONE DEADLY SUMMER, Daniel Day-Lewis in THE BOUNTY, Richard Edson in STRANGER THAN PARADISE, Fabrice Luchini in FULL MOON IN PARIS, Harry Dean Stanton in REPO MAN.
1985
Cameron English, A CHORUS LINE
Danny Glover, THE COLOR PURPLE
John Lone, YEAR OF THE DRAGON
M. Emmet Walsh, BLOOD SIMPLE *winner*
Victor Wong, DIM SUM: A LITTLE BIT OF HEART
Honorable Mentions: Héctor Alterio in THE OFFICIAL STORY, Klaus Maria Brandauer in OUT OF AFRICA, Crispin Glover and Christopher Lloyd in BACK TO THE FUTURE, Louis Gossett Jr. in ENEMY MINE, Anthony Michael Hall in THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Roddy McDowall in FRIGHT NIGHT.
Ineligible: David Gale in RE-ANIMATOR.
On the Watchlist: Brian Dennehy in TWICE IN A LIFETIME, Ian Holm in DREAMCHILD, Armin Mueller-Stahl in COLONEL REDL, Tim Roth in THE HIT.
1986
Daniel Day-Lewis, A ROOM WITH A VIEW
James Hong, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
Dennis Hopper, BLUE VELVET
Harry Dean Stanton, PRETTY IN PINK *winner*
Forest Whitaker, THE COLOR OF MONEY
Honorable Mentions: Brian Cox in MANHUNTER, Ray Liotta in SOMETHING WILD, Steve Martin in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Alan Ruck in FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF, Dean Stockwell in BLUE VELVET, Max von Sydow in HANNAH AND HER SISTERS.
Ineligible: Tom Towles in HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER.
On the Watchlist: Gabriel Arcand and Yves Jacques in THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, Charles Dance in THE GOLDEN CHILD, Gérard Darmon in BETTY BLUE.
1987
Antonio Banderas, LAW OF DESIRE *winner*
Morgan Freeman, STREET SMART
Hugh Grant, MAURICE
Vincent D’Onofrio, FULL METAL JACKET
Mandy Patinkin, THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Honorable Mentions: R. Lee Ermey in FULL METAL JACKET, Bob Hoskins in THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE, Donald McCann in THE DEAD, David Strathairn in MATEWAN.
Ineligible: Peter Falk and Otto Sander in WINGS OF DESIRE, Balla Moussa Keita in YEELEN, Jarl Kulle in BABETTE’S FEAST, Marcello Mastroianni in INTERVISTA.
On the Watchlist: Daniel Auteuil in JEAN DE FLORETTE, Robert Downey Jr. in LESS THAN ZERO, Richard Griffiths in WITHNAIL AND I, Dennis Hopper in RIVER’S EDGE.
1988
Alec Guinness, LITTLE DORRIT *winner*
Christopher Lloyd, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?
John Omirah Miluwi, GORILLAS IN THE MIST
Michael Palin, A FISH CALLED WANDA
Alan Rickman, DIE HARD
Honorable Mentions: Michael Keaton in BEETLEJUICE, Kevin Kline in A FISH CALLED WANDA, Sam Neil in A CRY IN THE DARK, Tim Robbins in BULL DURHAM.
Ineligible: Bernard Hill in DROWNING BY NUMBERS, Philippe Noiret in CINEMA PARADISO.
On the Watchlist: Raul Julia in MOON OVER PARADOR and TEQUILLA SUNRISE, John Lone in THE MODERNS, Raghur YAday in SALAAM BOMBAY!.
1989
Isaach De Bankolé, CHOCOLAT
Ossie Davis, DO THE RIGHT THING
Armin Mueller-Stahl, MUSIC BOX
Pete Postlethwaite, DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES *winner*
Christian Slater, HEATHERS
Honorable Mentions: Beau Bridges in THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS, Fred Gwynne in PET SEMATARY, Derek Jacobi in HENRY V, Hugh O’Connor in MY LEFT FOOT.
Ineligible: Jack Kao in A CITY OF SADNESS, Sam Neil and Andrzej Seweryn in THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
On the Watchlist: Bruce Dern in THE ‘BURBS, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster and Ray Liotta in FIELD OF DREAMS, John Leguizamo in CASUALTIES OF WAR.
Who would be your Best Supporting Actor winners in the 1980s?
Reader Comments (6)
I'm a Charles Durning fan, but Dom DeLuise runs rings around him in Best Little Whorehouse. Saw that for the first time a few years ago and was gobsmacked that DD didn't get any recognition for his wonderfully insane performance when Durning is fine in his one scene.
SOME THOUGHTS ON YOUR WATCH LISTS...
1981 Terence Stamp in SUPERMAN II
such a treat. Terence Stamp is *chefs kiss* today's supervillain actors only wish!
1982 Charles Durning in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS / Ricardo Montalban in STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN
Both are campy delights! It's still strange to me that Durning was nominated for this one, though, when Tootsie and a far more substantial was right there.
1983 Jonathan Pryce and Jason Robards in SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
I'm not a Jason Robards fan in general but I remember loving Jonathan Pryce (and Pam Grier his right hand woman) in this.
1984 Daniel Day-Lewis in THE BOUNTY
I have seen this movie and I do not remember DDL in it.
1985 Ian Holm in DREAMCHILD
this movie is fantastic with very fine performances.
1986 Gérard Darmon in BETTY BLUE.
somehow I thought you'd seen BETTY BLUE. You must! (though I don't remember any actors beyond the very horny leads.
1987 Daniel Auteuil in JEAN DE FLORETTE, Robert Downey Jr. in LESS THAN ZERO
Love your choices for nominees this year but these two are really noteworthy!
1988 Raul Julia in MOON OVER PARADOR and TEQUILLA SUNRISE, Raghur YAday in SALAAM BOMBAY!.
Raul Julia is always good but I'm mystified that I don't remember him ibeing n Tequlia Sunrise.I think i was so caught up in Kurt Russell (who really does not get enough credit for his hotness in the 80s) & all things PFeiffer. As for Salaam Bombay. It;s such a fantastic movie but i haven't seen it in so many years that I must confess I dont remember the actors much. But what a calling card for Mira Nair.
Performances you "nominated" that I haven't seen and now I'm so curious...
1980 Rock Hudson, THE MIRROR CRACK’D
1983 Ryuichi Sakamoto, MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE
It' sconfusing to me that I haven't seen this one.
1984 Gregory Hines, THE COTTON CLUB
The amount of times I remember almost renting this in the days of video stores. And yet somehow i have never seen it.
1985 John Lone, YEAR OF THE DRAGON
I thought people hated this movie. But I love John Lone so now I have to see it.
1989 Isaach De Bankolé, CHOCOLAT
I am embarrassed to have somehow never seen this Claire Denis picture but I'm happy to report that Isaach De Bankole is good in a small role in THE BRUTALIST.
I still have so much to see from the 80s (i was young so i wasn't seeing a lot of the "adult" movies. but my winners (at the moment) probably go like so...
1980 Dabney Coleman in NINE TO FIVE
1981 Jack Nicholson, REDS is it weird that this is my all time favourite performance of his?
1982 Rutger Hauer, BLADE RUNNER - this performannce just never gets old. every once in a while genre bias gets in the way of honoring obviously legendary work.
1983 Kurt Russell in SILKWOOD but really i don't know that this would hold if i saw more movies.
1984 Adolph Caesar A SOLDIER’S STORY ... maybe but i haven't seen it since the 80s, so...
1985 Klaus Maria Brandauer in OUT OF AFRICA
1986 Daniel Day-Lewis, A ROOM WITH A VIEW... but so glad Denholm Elliott was nominated for that picture (since DDL was obviously never going to be)
1987 Morgan Freeman, STREET SMART or Robert Downey Jr LESS THAN ZERO
1988 Tim Robbins BULL DURHAM fairly easily. so upsetting that he won for a bad performance when he was so stellar seven years earlier
1989 Beau Bridges THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS this was a good movie year in some ways but i don't think it was necessarily a good movie year for supporting actors. Still so annoying that he wasn't Oscar nominated since they obviously loved the movie. (4 well deserved nominations even if it also deserved a Picture nomination and a cinematography win.
Actually, it isn't. I'd place it in or near the Top 5, along with Chinatown, The Last Detail, A Few Good Men and Five Easy Pieces.
Nathaniel: agreed about Durning - so weird that he was nominated in 1982, and it wasn't for Tootsie - i adore him in it.
I love reading through these and reminiscing on so many performances I love like Liotta, Patinkin, Lloyd, Banderas, Walsh and von Sydow.