Best Actor: 1940s

1940: Cary Grant, His Girl Friday

Oscar winner: James Stewart, The Philadelphia Story

Was he nominated?: No

1941: Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon

Oscar winner: Gary Cooper, Sergeant York

Was he nominated?: No

1942: James Cagney, Yankee Doodle Dandy

Oscar winner: James Cagney, Yankee Doodle Dandy

1943: Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca

Oscar winner: Paul Lukas, Watch on the Rhine

Was he nominated?: Yes

1944: Fred MacMurray, Double Indemnity

Oscar winner: Bing Crosby, Going My Way

Was he nominated?: No

1945: Ray Milland, The Lost Weekend

Oscar winner: Ray Milland, The Lost Weekend

1946: James Stewart, It's a Wonderful Life

Oscar winner: Fredric March, The Best Years of Our Lives

Was he nominated?: Yes

1947: Richard Attenborough, Brighton Rock

Oscar winner: Ronald Colman, A Double Life

Was he nominated?: No

1948: Laurence Olivier, Hamlet

Oscar winner: Laurence Olivier, Hamlet

1949: Toshiro Mifune, Stray Dog

Oscar winner: Broderick Crawford, All the King's Men

Was he nominated?: No

Updated: 4/10/13