How much does winning a Best Actor Oscar help one’s career? Let’s take a look:
Jamie Foxx, Ray — Too soon to tell.
Sean Penn, Mystic River — No discernable career impact.
Adrian Brody, The Pianist – In higher profile fare than before winning (The Village, The Jacket) but not exactly a household name. Has a chance, though, perhaps, after starring in Peter Jackson’s upcoming King Kong. (On the other hand, Sam Neill didn’t exactly take off after Jurassic Park.)
Denzil Washington, Training Day – Was a mid-level star, still a mid-level star.
Russell Crowe, Gladiator – Was a star, still a star.
Kevin Spacey, American Beauty — Career nosedive.
Roberto Benigni, Live Is Beautiful – Was off the map, still off the map.
Jack Nicholson, As Good As It Gets — Remains Jack Nicholson.
Geoffrey Rush, Shine – Remains respected character actor, probably some marginal effect. Box office of Pirates of the Caribbean probably as important to his career as his Oscar win.
Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas – No apparent career impact.
Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump – Still Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks, Philadelphia – Still Tom Hanks.
Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman. No apparently career impact.
Anthony Hopkins, Silence of the Lambs. Film’s box office probably more influential than his Oscar, to whatever extent it was.
