Oscars is the most prestigious award ceremony, started in the year 1929, which honors the talents of Hollywood. One of the main awards given at the ceremony comprises of 'Best Actor in a Leading Role'. Before the 49th Academy Award ceremony, of 1977, this award was known as the 'Academy Award of Merit for Performance by an Actor'.

The successful running of a movie depends a lot on the performance of the actor in the leading role. 'Academy Award for Best Actor' is given to acknowledge the caliber of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance. The nominees for this award are decided by Academy members, who are actors themselves, while the winners are selected by all the Academy members as a whole. Here is the list of the winners in the category of 'Academy Award for Best Actor'.

Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role
 
Year
Winner
Film
2009
Sean Penn
Milk
2008
Daniel Day Lewis
There Will Be Blood
2007
Forest Whitaker
The Last King of Scotland
2006
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Capote
2005
Jamie Foxx
Ray  
2004
Sean Penn
Mystic River
2003
Adrien Brody

 

The Pianist
2002
Denzel
Washington
2001
Russell Crowe
Gladiator
2000
Kevin Spacey
American Beauty
1999
Roberto Benigni
Life Is Beautiful
1998
Jack Nicholson
As Good as It Gets
1997 
Geoffrey Rush
Shine
1996
Nicolas Cage
Leaving Las Vegas
1995
Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump
1994
Tom Hanks -
Philadelphia
1993
Al Pacino
Scent of a Woman
1992
Anthony Hopkins
The Silence of the Lambs
1991
Jeremy Irons
Reversal of Fortune