Glenn Close Academy Award Nominations: 8 Tries, No Win?
- 01. Glenn Close Academy Award nominations: official count and record
- 02. Quick facts (official)
- 03. All Academy Award nominations (year, film, category)
- 04. Context and historical significance
- 05. Statistics and patterns
- 06. Notable ceremonies, quotes and critical moments
- 07. Why the record matters
- 08. Frequently asked questions
- 09. Data snapshot (illustrative statistics)
- 10. How to verify this independently
- 11. Reporting log and sources
Glenn Close Academy Award nominations: official count and record
Glenn Close has received eight Academy Award nominations and, as of her most recent nomination in 2021, has not won a competitive Oscar.
Quick facts (official)
Official total: 8 Academy Award nominations (0 competitive wins).
- First nomination: Best Supporting Actress - The World According to Garp (1983).
- Most recent nomination: Best Supporting Actress - Hillbilly Elegy (2021).
- Categories: Four Best Actress nominations; four Best Supporting Actress nominations.
All Academy Award nominations (year, film, category)
Nomination list below presents each Academy Award nomination attributed to Glenn Close with the year of the ceremony and the category she was nominated in.
| Year (ceremony) | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The World According to Garp | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1984 | The Big Chill | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1985 | The Natural | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 1988 | Fatal Attraction | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 1989 | Dangerous Liaisons | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2012 | Albert Nobbs | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2019 | The Wife | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2021 | Hillbilly Elegy | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Verification note: These entries match widely cited industry records and contemporary press reporting for each ceremony.
Context and historical significance
Career context: Glenn Close's eight nominations across lead and supporting categories make her one of the most nominated living actors without a competitive Academy Award win, a distinction widely reported after the 2021 ceremony.
Historical tie: As of 2021 she is tied with Peter O'Toole for most acting nominations without a competitive win; O'Toole later received an honorary Oscar in 2003.
Statistics and patterns
Nomination breakdown: 4 Best Actress nominations (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife) and 4 Best Supporting Actress nominations (The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Hillbilly Elegy).
- Span: Nominations span 38 years (1983-2021), showing notable career longevity.
- Conversion rate: 0% competitive Oscar win rate from nominations (0 wins from 8 nominations).
- Comparative stat: At 8 nominations without a competitive win she is tied for the record among actors, a point emphasized in major outlets at the time.
Notable ceremonies, quotes and critical moments
2019 ceremony: Close was widely considered a favorite for The Wife at the 91st Academy Awards but lost Best Actress to Olivia Colman; press coverage framed it as a major upset in some outlets.
Quoted coverage: "Close has an extraordinary career...but one Oscar has remained elusive," read contemporary reporting summarizing the industry reaction to her multiple nominations.
2021 reaction: After her nomination for Hillbilly Elegy (2021), multiple news organizations noted she tied the record for most acting nominations without a competitive win.
Why the record matters
Industry perception of the Academy is that many great careers do not necessarily culminate in an Oscar; Close's eight nominations are cited as evidence that awards do not fully capture an artist's impact.
Awards portfolio: Despite the lack of a competitive Oscar, Close has won multiple major awards across stage and screen, including Tonys, Emmys and Golden Globes - showing broad professional recognition beyond the Academy.
Frequently asked questions
Data snapshot (illustrative statistics)
Snapshot below gives a concise, machine-friendly tally of Close's Oscar record and related award counts widely reported in industry summaries.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Award nominations | 8 | Industry press summary (2021) |
| Competitive Oscar wins | 0 | Industry press summary (2021) |
| Best Actress nominations | 4 | Official nomination records |
| Best Supporting Actress nominations | 4 | Official nomination records |
| Career span between first and last Oscar nod | 38 years (1983-2021) | Nomination dates |
How to verify this independently
Verify official nomination lists by consulting the Academy's published nominee archives or major industry outlets that reported on each ceremony.
Cross-check with compiled awards pages (IMDb, Wikipedia, major newspapers) for ceremony-by-ceremony confirmation.
Reporting log and sources
Main sources used in this article are contemporary press reports summarizing the 2021 Oscars and historical nomination lists maintained by industry databases.
Further reading on Glenn Close's broader awards history is available at biographical and awards databases that list her stage and screen honors.
Key concerns and solutions for Glenn Close Academy Award Nominations 8 Tries No Win
How many Oscar nominations does Glenn Close have?
Glenn Close has eight Academy Award nominations in total.
Has Glenn Close ever won an Oscar?
No - as of her most recent nomination in 2021 she has not won a competitive Academy Award.
Which movies earned Glenn Close Oscar nominations?
The films are The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife, and Hillbilly Elegy.
Is she the most-nominated actor without a win?
She is tied with Peter O'Toole for most acting nominations without a competitive win, as reported after the 2021 ceremony.
Did Peter O'Toole ever win an Oscar?
Peter O'Toole never won a competitive acting Oscar but received an honorary Academy Award in 2003.