Saturn Award for Best Actor

Saturn Award for Best Actor
Awarded forBest performance of the year by a male in a leading role in a genre film
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
First awarded1974/75
Currently held byTom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick (2021/2022)
Websitewww.saturnawards.org

The Saturn Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed, who felt that films within those genres were never given the appreciation they deserved. The physical award is a representation of the planet Saturn, surrounded with a ring of film. The award was initially and is still sometimes loosely referred to as a Golden Scroll. The award for Best Actor was first introduced in 1976 for the 1974 and 1975 years, to reward a lead performance by a male actor in film.

The record for most awards is held by Robert Downey, Jr. with four wins, followed by Mark Hamill with three, and then Jeff Bridges, Tom Cruise, and Harrison Ford (two each). Cruise is the most nominated actor in the category with twelve nominations, followed by Downey, Jr. and Arnold Schwarzenegger with seven. Schwarzenegger holds the record for most nominations without a victory. Anthony Hopkins and Martin Landau are the only actors to have won the Saturn Award for Best Actor and an Academy Award for the same role; however, Landau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and not Best Actor. The record for most wins for playing a same character is held by Downey Jr. and Hamill, who both won three times for playing Tony Stark and Luke Skywalker respectively.

Winners and nominees

1970s

Year Actor Film Character
1974/1975
(3rd)
James Caan Rollerball Jonathan E.
Don Johnson A Boy and His Dog Vic
1976
(4th)
David Bowie The Man Who Fell to Earth Thomas Jerome Newton
1977
(5th)
George Burns Oh, God! God
Richard Dreyfuss Close Encounters of the Third Kind Roy Neary
Harrison Ford Star Wars Han Solo
Mark Hamill Luke Skywalker
William Shatner Kingdom of the Spiders Dr. Rack Hansen
Michael York The Island of Dr. Moreau Andrew Braddock
1978
(6th)
Warren Beatty Heaven Can Wait Joe Pendleton
Christopher Lee The Wicker Man Lord Summerisle
Laurence Olivier The Boys from Brazil Ezra Lieberman
Christopher Reeve Superman Clark Kent / Superman
Donald Sutherland Invasion of the Body Snatchers Matthew Bennell
1979
(7th)
George Hamilton Love at First Bite Count Vladimir Dracula
Frank Langella Dracula Count Dracula
Christopher Lee Arabian Adventure Caliph Alquazar
Malcolm McDowell Time After Time H. G. Wells
William Shatner Star Trek: The Motion Picture James T. Kirk

1980s

Year Actor Film Character
1980
(8th)
Mark Hamill The Empire Strikes Back Luke Skywalker
Alan Arkin Simon Prof. Simon Mendelssohn
Dennis Christopher Fade to Black Eric Binford
Kirk Douglas The Final Countdown Capt. Matthew Yelland
Christopher Reeve Somewhere in Time Richard Collier
1981
(9th)
Harrison Ford Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones
Sean Connery Outland Marshal William T. O'Niel
Albert Finney Wolfen Dewey Wilson
Donald Pleasence Halloween II Dr. Sam Loomis
Christopher Reeve Superman II Clark Kent / Superman
1982
(10th)
William Shatner Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan James T. Kirk
Mel Gibson Mad Max 2 Max Rockatansky
Lee Horsley The Sword and the Sorcerer Prince Talon
Christopher Reeve Deathtrap Clifford Anderson
Henry Thomas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Elliott
1983
(11th)
Mark Hamill Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker
Matthew Broderick WarGames David Lightman
Christopher Reeve Superman III Clark Kent / Superman
Roy Scheider Blue Thunder Officer Frank Murphy
Christopher Walken The Dead Zone Johnny Smith
1984
(12th)
Jeff Bridges Starman Starman
George Burns Oh, God! You Devil God / Harry O. Tophet
Harrison Ford Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones
Arnold Schwarzenegger The Terminator Terminator
William Shatner Star Trek III: The Search for Spock James T. Kirk
1985
(13th)
Michael J. Fox Back to the Future Marty McFly
Hume Cronyn Cocoon Joe Finley
Louis Gossett Jr. Enemy Mine Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan
James Karen The Return of the Living Dead Frank
Chris Sarandon Fright Night Jerry Dandrige
1986
(14th)
Jeff Goldblum The Fly Seth Brundle
Michael Biehn Aliens Corporal Dwayne Hicks
Leonard Nimoy Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Spock
Anthony Perkins Psycho III Norman Bates
William Shatner Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home James T. Kirk
1987
(15th)
Jack Nicholson The Witches of Eastwick Daryl Van Horne
Lance Henriksen Pumpkinhead Ed Harley
Michael Nouri The Hidden Det. Tom Beck
Terry O'Quinn The Stepfather Jerry Blake
Arnold Schwarzenegger Predator Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
Peter Weller RoboCop Alex Murphy / RoboCop
1988
(16th)
Tom Hanks Big Josh Baskin
Hume Cronyn Cocoon: The Return Joe Finley
Bob Hoskins Who Framed Roger Rabbit Eddie Valiant
Jeremy Irons Dead Ringers Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
Bill Murray Scrooged Frank Cross
James Spader Jack's Back John / Rick Wesford
1989/1990
(17th)
Jeff Daniels Arachnophobia Dr. Ross Jennings
Warren Beatty Dick Tracy Dick Tracy
Harrison Ford Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones
Ed Harris The Abyss Virgil 'Bud' Brigman
Axel Jodorowsky Santa Sangre Fenix
Liam Neeson Darkman Peyton Westlake / Darkman
Jack Nicholson Batman Jack Napier / The Joker
Arnold Schwarzenegger Total Recall Douglas Quaid / Hauser
Patrick Swayze Ghost Sam Wheat

1990s

Year Actor Film Character
1991
(18th)
Anthony Hopkins The Silence of the Lambs Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Jeff Bridges The Fisher King Jack Lucas
James Caan Misery Paul Sheldon
Kevin Costner Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Robin Hood
Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator 2: Judgment Day Terminator
Robin Williams The Fisher King Parry
1992
(19th)
Gary Oldman Bram Stoker's Dracula Count Dracula / Vlad Dracula
Chevy Chase Memoirs of an Invisible Man Nick Halloway
Michael Gambon Toys Lt. General Leland Zevo
Raúl Juliá The Addams Family Gomez Addams
John Lithgow Raising Cain Dr. Carter Nix/Cain/Nix Sr/Josh/Margo
Robin Williams Toys Leslie Zevo
Bruce Willis Death Becomes Her Dr. Ernest Menville
1993
(20th)
Robert Downey, Jr. Heart and Souls Thomas Reilly
Jeff Bridges The Vanishing Barney Cousins
Bill Murray Groundhog Day Phil Connors
Robert Patrick Fire in the Sky Mike Rogers
Arnold Schwarzenegger Last Action Hero Jack Slater
Christian Slater True Romance Clarence Worley
Max von Sydow Needful Things Leland Gaunt
1994
(21st)
Martin Landau Ed Wood Bela Lugosi
Kenneth Branagh Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein
Tom Cruise Interview with the Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt
Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Forrest Gump
Jack Nicholson Wolf Will Randall
Brad Pitt Interview with the Vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac
Arnold Schwarzenegger True Lies Harry Tasker
1995
(22nd)
George Clooney From Dusk till Dawn Seth Gecko
Pierce Brosnan GoldenEye James Bond
Ralph Fiennes Strange Days Lenny Nero
Morgan Freeman Se7en William Somerset
Robin Williams Jumanji Alan Parrish
Bruce Willis 12 Monkeys James Cole
1996
(23rd)
Eddie Murphy The Nutty Professor Professor Sherman Klump, also: Buddy Love, Lance Perkins, Papa Klump, Mama Klump, Grandma Klump, Ernie Klump
Michael J. Fox The Frighteners Frank Bannister
Jeff Goldblum Independence Day David Levinson
Bill Paxton Twister Bill Harding
Will Smith Independence Day Captain Steven Hiller
Patrick Stewart Star Trek: First Contact Captain Jean-Luc Picard
1997
(24th)
Pierce Brosnan Tomorrow Never Dies James Bond
Nicolas Cage Face/Off Castor Troy / Sean Archer
Kevin Costner The Postman The Postman
Al Pacino The Devil's Advocate John Milton
Will Smith Men in Black Agent J
John Travolta Face/Off Sean Archer / Castor Troy
1998
(25th)
James Woods Vampires Jack Crow
Jim Carrey The Truman Show Truman Burbank
David Duchovny The X-Files: Fight the Future Special Agent Fox Mulder
Anthony Hopkins Meet Joe Black William Parrish
Edward Norton American History X Derek Vinyard
Bruce Willis Armageddon Harry Stamper
1999
(26th)
Tim Allen Galaxy Quest Jason Nesmith / Cmdr. Taggart
Johnny Depp Sleepy Hollow Ichabod Crane
Brendan Fraser The Mummy Richard "Rick" O'Connell
Liam Neeson Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Qui-Gon Jinn
Keanu Reeves The Matrix Thomas Anderson / Neo
Bruce Willis The Sixth Sense Dr. Malcolm Crowe

2000s

Year Actor Film Character
2000
(27th)
Hugh Jackman X-Men Logan / Wolverine
Jim Carrey How the Grinch Stole Christmas Grinch
Russell Crowe Gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius
Clint Eastwood Space Cowboys Colonel Frank Corvin
Arnold Schwarzenegger The 6th Day Adam Gibson / Adam Gibson Clone
Chow Yun-fat Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Li Mu Bai
2001
(28th)
Tom Cruise Vanilla Sky David Aames
Johnny Depp From Hell Inspector Frederick Abberline
Anthony Hopkins Hannibal Hannibal Lecter
Guy Pearce Memento Leonard Shelby
Kevin Spacey K-PAX Prot / Robert Porter
Billy Bob Thornton The Man Who Wasn't There Ed Crane
2002
(29th)
Robin Williams One Hour Photo Seymour Parrish
Pierce Brosnan Die Another Day James Bond
George Clooney Solaris Chris Kelvin
Tom Cruise Minority Report John Anderton
Tobey Maguire Spider-Man Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Viggo Mortensen The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Aragorn
2003
(30th)
Elijah Wood The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Frodo Baggins
Tom Cruise The Last Samurai Nathan Algren
Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Captain Jack Sparrow
Albert Finney Big Fish old Edward Bloom
Crispin Glover Willard Willard Stiles
Viggo Mortensen The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Aragorn
2004
(31st)
Tobey Maguire Spider-Man 2 Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Christian Bale The Machinist Trevor Reznik
Jim Carrey Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Joel Barish
Tom Cruise Collateral Vincent
Matt Damon The Bourne Supremacy Jason Bourne
Johnny Depp Finding Neverland Sir James Matthew Barrie
2005
(32nd)
Christian Bale Batman Begins Bruce Wayne / Batman
Pierce Brosnan The Matador Julian Noble
Hayden Christensen Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
Tom Cruise War of the Worlds Ray Ferrier
Robert Downey, Jr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Harry Lockhart
Viggo Mortensen A History of Violence Tom Stall / Joey Cusack
2006
(33rd)
Brandon Routh Superman Returns Clark Kent / Superman
Daniel Craig Casino Royale James Bond
Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible III Ethan Hunt
Will Ferrell Stranger than Fiction Harold Crick
Hugh Jackman The Fountain Tomas / Tommy / Tom Creo
Clive Owen Children of Men Theo Faron
2007
(34th)
Will Smith I Am Legend Dr. Robert Neville
Gerard Butler 300 King Leonidas
John Cusack 1408 Mike Enslin
Daniel Day-Lewis There Will Be Blood Daniel Plainview
Johnny Depp Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Benjamin Barker / Sweeney Todd
Viggo Mortensen Eastern Promises Nikolai Luzhin
2008
(35th)
Robert Downey, Jr. Iron Man Tony Stark / Iron Man
Christian Bale The Dark Knight Bruce Wayne / Batman
Tom Cruise Valkyrie Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
Harrison Ford Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Indiana Jones
Brad Pitt The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Benjamin Button
Will Smith Hancock John Hancock
2009
(36th)
Sam Worthington Avatar Jake Sully
Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes
Tobey Maguire Brothers Capt. Sam Cahill
Viggo Mortensen The Road Man
Sam Rockwell Moon Sam Bell
Denzel Washington The Book of Eli Eli

2010s

Year Actor Film Character
2010
(37th)
Jeff Bridges Tron: Legacy Kevin Flynn / CLU
George Clooney The American Jack / Edward
Leonardo DiCaprio Inception Dom Cobb
Shutter Island Teddy Daniels
Robert Downey, Jr. Iron Man 2 Tony Stark / Iron Man
Ryan Reynolds Buried Paul Conroy
2011
(38th)
Michael Shannon Take Shelter Curtis LaForche
Antonio Banderas The Skin I Live In Dr. Robert Ledgard
Dominic Cooper The Devil's Double Uday Hussein / Latif Yahia
Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Ethan Hunt
Chris Evans Captain America: The First Avenger Steve Rogers / Captain America
Ben Kingsley Hugo Georges Méliès
2012
(39th)
Matthew McConaughey Killer Joe Joe Cooper
Christian Bale The Dark Knight Rises Bruce Wayne / Batman
Daniel Craig Skyfall James Bond
Martin Freeman The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Young Bilbo Baggins
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Looper Young Joe
Hugh Jackman Les Misérables Jean Valjean
2013
(40th)
Robert Downey, Jr. Iron Man 3 Tony Stark / Iron Man
Oscar Isaac Inside Llewyn Davis Llewyn Davis
Simon Pegg The World's End Gary King
Joaquin Phoenix Her Theodore Twombly
Brad Pitt World War Z Gerry Lane
Ben Stiller The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Walter Mitty
2014
(41st)
Chris Pratt Guardians of the Galaxy Peter Quill / Star-Lord
Tom Cruise Edge of Tomorrow Maj. William Cage
Chris Evans Captain America: The Winter Soldier Steve Rogers / Captain America
Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler Louis Bloom
Michael Keaton Birdman Riggan Thomson / Birdman
Matthew McConaughey Interstellar Cooper
Dan Stevens The Guest David Collins
2015
(42nd)
Harrison Ford Star Wars: The Force Awakens Han Solo
John Boyega Star Wars: The Force Awakens Finn
Matt Damon The Martian Mark Watney
Leonardo DiCaprio The Revenant Hugh Glass
Taron Egerton Kingsman: The Secret Service Gary "Eggsy" Unwin
Domhnall Gleeson Ex Machina Caleb Smith
Samuel L. Jackson The Hateful Eight Major Marquis Warren
Paul Rudd Ant-Man Scott Lang / Ant-Man
2016
(43rd)
Ryan Reynolds Deadpool Wade Wilson / Deadpool
Benedict Cumberbatch Doctor Strange Dr. Stephen Strange
Chris Evans Captain America: Civil War Steve Rogers / Captain America
Matthew McConaughey Gold Kenny Wells
Chris Pine Star Trek Beyond Captain James T. Kirk
Chris Pratt Passengers Jim Preston
Mark Rylance The BFG The BFG
2017
(44th)
Mark Hamill Star Wars: The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker
Chadwick Boseman Black Panther T'Challa / Black Panther
Ryan Gosling Blade Runner 2049 K
Hugh Jackman Logan Logan / Wolverine
Daniel Kaluuya Get Out Chris Washington
Andy Serkis War for the Planet of the Apes Caesar
Vince Vaughn Brawl in Cell Block 99 Bradley Thomas
2018/2019
(45th)
Robert Downey, Jr. Avengers: Endgame Tony Stark / Iron Man
Jeff Bridges Bad Times at the El Royale Father Daniel Flynn / Dock O'Kelly
Nicolas Cage Mandy Red Miller
Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible – Fallout Ethan Hunt
Chris Evans Avengers: Endgame Steve Rogers / Captain America
Mel Gibson Dragged Across Concrete Brett Ridgeman
Keanu Reeves John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum John Wick / Jardani Jovonovich
2019/2020
(46th)
John David Washington Tenet Protagonist
Daniel Craig Knives Out Benoit Blanc
Delroy Lindo Da 5 Bloods Paul
Ewan McGregor Doctor Sleep Dan Torrance
Gary Oldman Mank Herman J. Mankiewicz
Aaron Paul El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Jesse Pinkman
Joaquin Phoenix Joker Arthur Fleck / Joker

2020s

Year Actor Film Character
2021/2022
(47th)
Tom Cruise Top Gun: Maverick Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Timothée Chalamet Dune Paul Atreides
Idris Elba The Suicide Squad Robert DuBois / Bloodsport
Tom Holland Spider-Man: No Way Home Peter Parker / Spider-Man / "Peter-One"
Daniel Kaluuya Nope Otis "OJ" Haywood Jr.
Simu Liu Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Xu Shang-Chi
Robert Pattinson The Batman Bruce Wayne / Batman

Multiple nominations

Multiple wins

External links