Meet the 2017 Academy Awards Nominees: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The Best Actor in a Supporting Role category is filled with some incredibly intense and fragile performances. Before the Academy Award winner is announced on February 26th, get to know these remarkable gentleman!
Next up: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Meet Mahershala Ali
Moonlight
Hometown: Oakland, California
Training: St. Mary's College of California (BA Communications), NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA Acting)
Big Break: His first major film role came in 2008 in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." You may also recognize him from "The Hunger Games" or TV shows like "The 4400" and "House of Cards."
Fun Fact: Mahershala was offered a Division I basketball scholarship, but decided to study acting in college instead.
Meet Jeff Bridges
Hell or High Water
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Training: HB Studios
Big Break: "The Last Picture Show," Jeff's first major film earned him his first Academy Award nomination in this category (1971), making him one of the youngest nominees at 22. He has been nominated 4 other times and won for Best Actor ("Crazy Heart," 2009).
Fun Fact: In 1983, Jeff formed the End Hunger Network. It is a non-profit organization whose mission is to feed children around the world.
Meet Lucas Hedges
Manchester by the Sea
Hometown: New York, New York
Training: 1 year of training at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (currently on break)
Big Break: Son of poet and actress Susan Bruce and Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director Peter Hedges, Lucas was scouted for Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" (2012) when the casting director saw his middle school play.
Fun Fact: He is a 2014 alumnus of Northwestern's pre-college summer program.
Meet Dev Patel
Lion
Hometown: London, England
Big Break: His film debut and breakthrough role came in 2008's Academy Award-winning "Slumdog Millionaire."
Fun Fact: Dev has a black belt in tae kwan do.
Meet Michael Shannon
Nocturnal Animals
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky & Chicago, Illinois
Big Break: Michael got his big break and global attention for his work in "8 Mile" (2002) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Revolutionary Road" (2008).