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2 months ago
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When good isn't good enough in the eyes of the award shows.
Artists of all disciplines put their lives into their work, yet even those who've been showered with praise haven't been recognized at the highest levels.
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While Diana Ross was handed a Lifetime Achievement award, she never actually won an award in a specific category at the Grammys.
It's a serious shame that revered musicians and actors don't get their proper credit from their peers, and in some cases, it's too late before they do.
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Heath Ledger, for example, won his first Oscar posthumously for his brilliant portrayal of the Joker in Dark Knight.
However, even so, plenty of brilliant actors and musicians in the world never get or got their flowers.
Here are 23 celebrities who never won a Tony, Emmy, Oscar, or Grammy — excluding honorary awards.
1. Tupac
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With seven Grammy nominations —five of which were posthumous—Tupac Shakur never actually took home the trophy. Unfortunately, his acting career didn't result in any major accolades, either.
2. Johnny Depp
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While possibly a controversial figure, Johnny Depp is undoubtedly one of the greats who delivered some stellar performances. He's been nominated three times at the Oscars and but never took home any awards.
3. Bob Marley
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It should be noted that Bob Marley passed away before the Best Reggae Album was ever introduced to the Grammys. He was also posthumously honored by the Grammys with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
4. Björk
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It's wild to think that Björk hasn't secured a single win throughout her career, especially since she's been nominated for 16 Grammys, 2 Golden Globe awards, and 1 Oscar.
5. Angela Bassett
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With such a stellar resumé, it's blasphemous that Angela Bassett hasn't secured a single Oscar or Emmy during her career. Though the Oscars honored her with an Academy Honorary Award in 2024, she should've won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the very least.
6. Vivica A. Fox
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Despite being in major roles throughout her career, Vivica A. Fox has never won an Emmy, Oscar, or a Tony.
7. Jimi Hendrix
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Nominated for his rendition of "Star Spangled Banner" at the Grammys, Jimi Hendrix, while one of the most influential musicians of all time, never received accolades from the Recording Academy.
8. Tom Cruise
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Despite an impressive resume that includes franchises like Mission Impossible and Blockbuster hits like Top Gun and its sequel, Tom Cruise has yet to win an Oscar, Emmy or Tony. Still, he's one of the most decorated actors in Hollywood with 3 Golden Globes, which he later returned in 2021 in protest of HFPA.
9. Nicki Minaj
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I believe Nicki Minaj could become an EGOT winner at some point in her career, but first, the Recording Academy must acknowledge her contributions to the music industry. Though highly decorated in accolades, Nicki Minaj has yet to win a Grammy, even with 12 nominations. She's dabbled in acting before, with credits in Barbershop: The Next Cut and voice acting roles in the Ice Age series. Hopefully, we will see her appear on the stage and big screen in the future. Before all else, she definitely deserves a Grammy.
10. Willem Defoe
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A legend in his own right, Willem Defoe delivered some brilliant performances throughout his storied career. But even with four Academy Awards nominations, he's yet to take home the award, nor has he won a Tony, Emmy, or a Grammy.
11. Taraji P. Henson
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Taraji P. Henson's career spans over two decades with many accomplishments under her belt. She's earned one Academy Award nomination, three Primetime Emmy nominations, and two Daytime Emmy Award nominations in her career but has yet to win. She's also been nominated for a Tony Award for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding in the Best Play category, which lost to Stereophonic.
12. Patti Smith
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Though inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021, Patti Smith never won a single Grammy in the four times she was nominated.
13. Saoirse Ronan
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Even though Ronan is considered one of the greatest actors ever, she has yet to earn an Academy Award. The Oscars nominated her four times between 2008 and 2024 but time after time, she's left empty-handed. Hopefully, that will change in the future.
14. Amy Adams
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From dinner theater to Golden Globe awards, Amy Adams has had a fruitful career with an expansive resumé. However, even with six Academy Award nominations and 2 Primetime Emmy nods, she's yet to win any of these converted awards.
15. Ice Cube
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With a prolific career as an MC and an actor, Ice Cube's only Grammy win came as a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to N.W.A. However, even with an equally impressive filmography, he's never been nominated for a Emmy or an Oscar.
16. Damson Idris
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I really believed that his performance in the series finale of Snowfall would've, at the very least, earned him an Emmy nod. Damson Idris has yet to be acknowledged in the highest forms. However, it's still early and it's only a matter of time until he delivers an epic winning speech at one of the major award ceremonies.
17. Brian Tyree Henry
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Ever since Atlanta, Brian Tyree Henry has been everywhere. From starring alongside Brad Pitt in Bullet Train to his work in Joker, Henry has proven to be one of the most impressive actors of this generation. Unfortunately, even with stellar performances in Atlanta and Joker, he's yet to win any major awards for his efforts.
18. Busta Rhymes
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A definitive hip-hop act whose influence remains palpable, Busta Rhymes has earned 12 Grammy nominations throughout his career without winning once.
19. Demi Moore
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Demi Moore is a staple in Hollywood but perhaps, her performances only received its just due in retrospect. Moore has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for If These Walls Could Talk, though she's never had the opportunity to accept any major award.
20. Jake Gyllenhaal
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While he's been nominated for three Tony Awards and one Academy Award, Gyllenhaal hasn't had great luck at award ceremonies.
21. Kevin Hart
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Hart's history with the Academy Awards has been complicated ever since he stepped down as the host of the 2019 ceremony. Interestingly enough, he's never actually been nominated for an Oscar. However, he has been recognized at the Grammys and the Primetime Emmy Awards, though he's never actually won in any of the categories he was nominated in.
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