1936 is the first year that actors in supporting roles were recognized, and it’s about time. There have been too many actors nominated for Best Actor, whose parts were not the lead roles in films. And it gives more people a chance to be recognized for their fantastic work. I am really looking forwarding to exploring the films of these actors, who happened to not be the leads.
- 1936 – Mischa Auer – My Man Godfrey
- 1936 – Walter Brennan – Come and Get It (WINNER)
- 1936 – Stuart Erwin – Pigskin Parade
- 1936 – Basil Rathbone – Romeo and Juliet
- 1936 – Akim Tamiroff – The General Died at Dawn
- 1937 – Joseph Schildkraut – The Life of Emile Zola (WINNER)
- 1937 – Ralph Bellamy – The Awful Truth
- 1937 – Thomas Mitchell – The Hurricane
- 1937 – H. B. Warner – Lost Horizon
- 1937 – Roland Young – Topper
- 1938 – Basil Rathbone – If I Were King
- 1938 – Gene Lockhart – Algiers
- 1938 – John Garfield – Four Daughters
- 1938 – Robert Morley – Marie Antoinette
- 1938 – Walter Brennan – Kentucky (WINNER)
- 1939 – Brian Aherne – Juarez
- 1939 – Brian Donlevy – Beau Geste
- 1939 – Harry Cary – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- 1939 – Claude Rains – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- 1939 – Thomas Mitchell – Stagecoach (WINNER)
- 1940 – Anbert Basserman – Foreign Correspondent
- 1940 – Walter Brennan – The Westerner (WINNER)
- 1940 – William Gargan – They Knew What They Wanted
- 1940 – Jack Oakie – The Great Dictator
- 1940 – James Stephenson – The Letter
- 1941 – Walter Brennan – Sergeant York
- 1941 – James Gleason – Here Comes Mr. Jordan