Over the course of the 2020s, five actors have received the honor of Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, and though each of these individuals certainly deserved their award, some arguably stand out more than others. Originated in 1929, the Oscars (otherwise known as the Academy Awards) are a ceremony meant to recognize the achievements of actors who truly shine in a given year. For decades, the Oscars have acknowledged some of Hollywood’s most prominent actors and rising stars, alongside directors, writers, and crew members.
Among the Oscars’ 23 categories, one notable award is Best Supporting Actor. This accolade goes to actors who give a particularly outstanding performance in a supporting role rather than a leading one. Over the years, actors like Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, and Robin Williams have been given this award, and countless others have been nominated for it. In the 2020s, the five individuals who have won Best Supporting Actor are Daniel Kaluuya, Troy Kotsur, Ke Huy Quan, Robert Downey Jr., and most recently, Kieran Culkin. Here is how they stack against each other.
5
Robert Downey Jr.
Oppenheimer
It may come as a surprise that iconic actor Robert Downey Jr. is at the bottom of this list, but by no means does this mean that he or his performance was bad. In 2023, Downey took on the role of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Strauss is a government official who resents J. Robert Oppenheimer’s changing views of nuclear power, leading to a tense struggle between the men. Downey aces this role, giving a perfect mix of charisma and downright jealousy.
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There are many reasons to praise Downey’s performance in Oppenheimer. He is very good, especially when put against other members of Oppenheimer’s star-studded cast, like Cillian Murphy. Yet, the reason Downey is ranked number five out of five is because his competition was fierce. Up against Ryan Gosling in Barbie and Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things, Downey won the award, but may not have necessarily been the favorite. Thus, Downey’s performance was good, but not earth-shattering.
4
Kieran Culkin
A Real Pain
A similar situation arises for the most recent winner of the Best Supporting Actor award, Kieran Culkin. In 2024’s A Real Pain, Culkin plays Benji Kaplan, a down-on-his-luck man who travels to Poland with his cousin to visit where their grandmother grew up. Unlike his type-A cousin, played by Jesse Eisenberg, Benji is emotionally unstable and tends to throw caution to the wind in favor of fun and entertainment. Ultimately, this facade covers up a much darker trauma within him.
Culkin has perfected the art of playing a character who is both likable and also deeply flawed.
Once again, Culkin gives an incredible performance as Benji. He is chaotic, strange, and vulnerable. Culkin has perfected the art of playing a character who is both likable and also deeply flawed. In fact, his performance as Benji is quite reminiscent of the work he did as Roman Roy in Succession, which is why he takes the number four spot. Though Culkin’s portrayal of Benji was riveting, it felt a bit too similar to his past work. Plus, like Downey, he had stiff competition, particularly from his Succession co-star, Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice.
3
Troy Kotsur
CODA
On the other hand, an actor who completely swept his category was Troy Kotsur. The actor took on the role of Frank Rossi in CODA, which follows a young woman named Ruby who is the only hearing member of her family. As a result, Ruby often feels isolated from her parents and brother, especially when she finds solace in her school’s choir. In the end, Ruby must find the courage to tell her parents how she feels.
Despite being pitted against strong actors like J.K. Simmons and Jesse Plemmons, Kotsur managed to win Best Supporting Actor, and he certainly deserved it. As Ruby’s father, Frank, Kotsur is the pinnacle of a hard-working middle-class man. He comes across as gruff, but ultimately proves his soft side, especially for his daughter. Kotsur’s win is also notable because he is the first male deaf actor to win an acting award at the Oscars. Really, the only downfall to Kotsur’s win is that he isn’t more established, meaning his performance in CODA may be the last of its kind.
2
Daniel Kaluuya
Judas & The Black Messiah
In the second place spot for Best Supporting Actor of the 2020s is Daniel Kaluuya. In 2021, Kaluuya appeared in Judas and the Black Messiah as the real-life Black Panther, Fred Hampton. The movie centers on Bill O’Neal, a petty criminal who is given the chance to have his charges dropped if he works with the FBI to infiltrate the Black Panthers and get information on Hampton. He agrees, leading to a complicated relationship of lies, secrets, and true connections.
Truthfully, Kaluuya is a stand-out in just about every project he appears in, but his portrayal of Hampton may be his best performance yet. Kaluuya embodies the spirit of Hampton, making it nearly impossible not to root for him, despite knowing O’Neal’s intentions. The entire cast of Judas and the Black Messiah give otherworldly performances, but Kaluuya is the string that ties it all together. He is utterly compelling and evocative.
1
Ke Huy Quan
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Finally, the Best Supporting Actor of the 2020s so far has to be Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once. The 2022 film centers on Evelyn, a woman who leads a dull life as a laundromat owner until a rupture in time and space forces her to finally act to save herself and her family. Alongside Michelle Yeoh in the lead role, Quan plays Waymond, her quiet and loyal husband who proves that his love for her has never faded, even when their lives have been at their most boring.
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Everything Everywhere All At Once continues to be an anomaly at the Oscars, pulling in countless awards despite being a certifiably strange film. Yet, the movie’s quirks cannot overshadow how strong the storytelling is and the amazing performances. Quan, in particular, is dazzling as Waymond. He infuses such emotionality into the movie, and proves that his career did not end in the 1980s. Overall, Quan is a perfect emblem for Best Supporting Actor, and the Oscars at large.