Oscar Countdown: Day 12

John Forbes Nash and Russel Crowe: "A Beautiful Mind"?

Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich, maybe Kate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn (it's close, I think), Jason Robards as Ben Bradlee, Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, De Niro in Raging Bull as Jake Lamotta.

Sandra Bullock won for The Blind Side.

What about Charlize Theron in Monster?

Helen Mirren won for her role as Elizabeth II in "The Queen."

Russell Crowe was nominated for his portrayal of Nash, but Crowe lost to Denzel Washington.

Julia Roberts / Erin Brockovich is correct.

Kate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn is incorrect. Hepburn had died in 2003.

Jason Robards / Bed Bradlee is correct.

Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles is incorrect. He had died the previous June.

Robert DeNiro / Jake LaMotta is correct.

Sandra Bullock / Leigh Anne Touhy is correct (and not on my list of eleven — so we bump it to twelve).

Charlize Theron / Aileen Wuornoss is incorrect. Wournoss had previously died.

Helen Mirren / QE2 is correct.

Five correct. Still looking for seven.

James Cagney as George M. Cohan, Yankee Doodle Dandy?

How about Geoffrey Rush as the pianist (forgetting his name!) in 'Shine'?

Gary Cooper as Sergeant York?

James Cagney as George Cohan is incorrect. Cohan had died the previous November.

Geoffrey Rush / David Helfgott is correct.

Six down, six to go.

Gary Cooper as Alvin York is correct.

Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bulow?

I'll try again. Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan, Boys Town.

Sissy Spacek for Coal Miner's Daughter.

I then cheated and found four more but won't put them in. Three of them no one will get.

Jeremy Irons / Claus von Bulow is correct (although not on my original list).

Spencer Tracy / Father Flanagan also is correct.

I have four more on my list. Three of the "real" persons were rather famous. The fourth? Never heard of the person.

The films? One from the 1960s, one from the 1980s, one from the 1990s, and one from the 2000s. Two actors. Two actresses.

Sissy Spacek in Coal Miners Daughter (as Loretta Lynn).

Will Smith was nominated for his portrayal of Ali, but he didn't win. Hmmm. I'll keep thinking.

Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking (Helen Prejean).

Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn (Coal Miner's Daughter)
Hoang Ngor as Dith Pran (The Killing Fields)

Jennifer Connolly as Alicia Nash in A Beautiful Mind?

Spacek/Lynn is correct.
Sarandon/Prejean is correct.

Ngor/Pran is also correct, although not on my original list. (Wow, I'm sure butchering this!)

I have two more on my list. Still looking for an actress/female (1960s film) and an actor/male (2000s film). But maybe there are yet other correct answers out there.

Add Connelly/Nash to the list of correct answers (and to those not on my original list).

I still have two more on my list.

Patty Duke as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker.

Jim Broadbent as John Bayley (who?) in Iris.

If Claus von Bulow is considered famous, then I will guess Jeremy Irons for "Reversal of Fortune."

Re-reading the question, I see that you asked whether the person was still alive, but fame was not required, so "Reversal of Fortune" qualifies, yes?

Garrett picks up the last two (on my list): Duke/Keller and Broadbent/Bayley.

Kelly — yes, as noted earlier, Irons/Bulow also should be on the list.

My apologies! This is such a long list of responses (which is great), and I must have missed it. Very interesting question!

Sissy Spacek – Loretta Lynn

Susan Sarandon as Sister Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking"

There's one more: Estelle Parsons (won 1968) as Blanche Barrow (died 1988).

Could there be a better way to write on this topic? My answer is of course NO. You are great my friend…just continue doing this stuff and soon you would be a well-known name on the net.

Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bulow
Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn
Susan Sarandon as Helen Prejean