Best Actor: 1970s

1970: Jack Nicholson, Five Easy Pieces

Oscar winner: George C. Scott, Patton

Was he nominated?: Yes

1971: Gene Hackman, The French Connection

Oscar winner: Gene Hackman, The French Connection

1972: Marlon Brando, The Godfather

Oscar winner: Marlon Brando, The Godfather

1973: Steve McQueen, Papillon

Oscar winner: Jack Lemmon, Save the Tiger

Was he nominated?: No

1974: Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II

Oscar winner: Art Carney, Harry and Tonto

Was he nominated?: Yes

1975: Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon

Oscar winner: Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Was he nominated?: Yes

1976: Robert De Niro, Taxi Driver

Oscar winner: Peter Finch, Network

Was he nominated?: Yes

1977: Richard Dreyfuss, The Goodbye Girl

Oscar winner: Richard Dreyfuss, The Goodbye Girl

1978: Robert De Niro, The Deer Hunter

Oscar winner: Jon Voight, Coming Home

Was he nominated?: Yes

1979: Roy Scheider, All That Jazz

Oscar winner: Dustin Hoffman, Kramer vs. Kramer

Was he nominated?: Yes

Updated: 2/19/14