Poll: Oscar-Winning Leading Actor From a Biopic

Results of 244 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)

    

   Adrien Brody Role: Wladyslaw Szpilman (Figure) | Film: The Pianist (2002) 2003 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
2. 2.
   

   Robert De Niro and Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980)

    

   Robert De Niro Role: Jake La Motta (Figure) | Film: Raging Bull (1980) 1981 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
3. 3.
   

   Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer (2023)

    

   Cillian Murphy Role: J. Robert Oppenheimer (Figure) | Film: Oppenheimer (2023) 2023 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
4. 4.
   

   Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982)

    

   Ben Kingsley Role: Mohandas K. Gandhi (Figure) | Film: Gandhi (1982) 1983 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
5. 5.
   

   Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)

    

   Daniel Day-Lewis Role: Abraham Lincoln (Figure) | Film: Lincoln (2012) 2013 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
6. 6.
   

   George C. Scott in Patton (1970)

    

   George C. Scott Role: General George S. Patton (Figure) | Film: Patton (1970) 1971 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
7. 7.
   

   F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus (1984)

    

   F. Murray Abraham Role: Antonio Salieri (Figure) | Film: Amadeus (1984) 1985 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
8. 8.
   

   Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

    

   Rami Malek Role: Freddie Mercury (Figure) | Film: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) 2019 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
9. 9.
   

   Colin Firth in The King's Speech (2010)

    

   Colin Firth Role: King George VI (Figure) | Film: The King's Speech (2010) 2011 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
10. 10.
    

    Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

     

    Matthew McConaughey Role: Ron Woodroof (Figure) | Film: Dallas Buyers Club (2013) 2014 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
11. 11.
    

    Porter Hall and Paul Muni in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)

     

    Paul Muni Role: Louis Pasteur (Figure) | Film: The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) 1937 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
12. 12.
    

    Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)

     

    Forest Whitaker Role: Idi Amin (Figure) | Film: The Last King of Scotland (2006) 2007 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
13. 13.
    

    Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)

     

    Yul Brynner Role: King Mongkut of Siam (Figure) | Film: The King and I (1956) 1957 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
14. 14.
    

    Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour (2017)

     

    Gary Oldman Role: Winston Churchill (Figure) | Film: Darkest Hour (2017) 2018 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
15. 15.
    

    George Arliss in Disraeli (1929)

     

    George Arliss Role: Benjamin Disraeli (Figure) | Film: Disraeli (1929) 1930 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
16. 16.
    

    Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot (1989)

     

    Daniel Day-Lewis Role: Christy Brown (Figure) | Film: My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989) 1990 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
17. 17.
    

    Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything (2014)

     

    Eddie Redmayne Role: Stephen Hawking (Figure) | Film: The Theory of Everything (2014) 2015 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
18. 18.
    

    Gary Cooper at an event for Sergeant York (1941)

     

    Gary Cooper Role: Alvin C. York (Figure) | Film: Sergeant York (1941) 1942 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
19. 19.
    

    James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

     

    James Cagney Role: George M. Cohan (Figure) | Film: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 1943 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
20. 20.
    

    Spencer Tracy in Boys Town (1938)

     

    Spencer Tracy Role: Father Edward Flanagan (Figure) | Film: Boys Town (1938) 1939 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
21. 21.
    

    Geoffrey Rush in Shine (1996)

     

    Geoffrey Rush Role: David Helfgott - Adult (Figure) | Film: Shine (1996) 1997 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
22. 22.
    

    Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (2005)

     

    Philip Seymour Hoffman Role: Truman Capote (Figure) | Film: Capote (2005) 2006 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
23. 23.
    

    Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)

     

    Jamie Foxx Role: Ray Charles (Figure) | Film: Ray (2004) 2005 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
24. 24.
    

    Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)

     

    Charles Laughton Role: Henry VIII (Figure) | Film: The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) 1934 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
25. 25.
    

    Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990)

     

    Jeremy Irons Role: Claus von Bülow (Figure) | Film: Reversal of Fortune (1990) 1991 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
26. 26.
    

    Sean Penn in Milk (2008)

     

    Sean Penn Role: Harvey Milk (Figure) | Film: Milk (2008) 2009 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
27. 27.
    

    Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons (1966)

     

    Paul Scofield Role: Sir Thomas More (Figure) | Film: A Man for All Seasons (1966) 1967 Winner Oscar - Best Actor in a Leading Role
28. 28.
    

    Will Smith in King Richard (2021)

     

    Will Smith Role: Richard Williams (Figure) | Film: King Richard (2021) 2022 Winner Oscar - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role