In recent years Oscar nominees with Wisconsin connections have had much success.
Kenosha native and visual effects artist Jim Rygiel won three Oscars for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. And last year Mequon native John Ridley won the Oscar for best screenplay for “12 Years A Slave.”
This year four Oscar nominees have peripheral connections to the Badger state.
But over the long haul the record is not great. There may be nominees in the many technical categories over the years with local ties. But in the acting and directing categories the list is pretty slim.
It includes:
Racine native Frederic March, nominated in 1931 for “The Royal Family of Broadway” and “A Star Is Born ” in 1937, and “Death of a Salesman” in 1952 and winning for “Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde” in 1932 (tying with Wallace Beery in “The Champ”) and “The Best Years Of Our Lives” (1947).
Milwaukee native Alfred Lunt, nominated in 1931 for “The Guardsman.”
Milwaukee native Spencer Tracy, nominated nine times for, “San Francisco” (1937), “Father of the Bride” (1951), “Bad Day at Black Rock” (1956), “The Old Man and the Sea” (1959), “Inherit the Wind” (1961), “Judgment at Juremberg” (1962) and posthumously for “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1968). His two wins came early in his career for “Captains Courageous” (1937) and “Boys Town” (1938).
Kenosha native Orson Welles, nominated as actor and director for “Citizen Kane” (1942) and winning a shared screenplay Oscar with Herman J. Mankiewicz. He won an honorary award in 1971.
Gena Rowlands, whom most sources list as a Madison native but who may have West Allis roots, nominated twice, for “Gloria” (1981) and “A Woman Under the Influence” (1975)
Madison native Rob Marshall, nominated as best director for “Chicago” (2002).
Milwaukee native Gene Wilder was nominated for “The Producers” (1969) and for the screenplay for “Young Frankenstein” (1975).
Willem Dafoe, Appleton native and former and member of Milwaukee’s Theater X, was nominated for “Platoon” (1987) and “Shadow of the Vampire” (2001).
Who am I missing?
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