Best Actor

Winner: Sean Penn

Milk

Sean Penn is one of Hollywood's most passionate and dedicated actors with a wealth of memorable film roles to his credit, including his iconic portrayal of burnout Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and his work in I Am Sam as a mentally handicapped father struggling to raise his child on his own. It's been five years since Sean won the Best Actor trophy for his performance in Mystic River as an angry ex-con who looks to avenge his daughter's brutal death.   Sean earns his fifth Oscar® nomination with his role in Milk as gay rights activist Harvey Milk, California's first self-identified gay man to be elected to public office. Sean immerses himself in the role, which tells story of Harvey's political life up to its tragic end in November 1978 when he was shot by a former colleague.