6 Actors Who Turned Down A Role That Won Someone Else An Oscar

Michael Keaton passed on Philadelphia — Tom Hanks won Best Actor for it

Keaton was offered the role of AIDS-discrimination lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia but passed on the project. Tom Hanks took the part instead and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for it.

John Travolta chose Pulp Fiction over Forrest Gump — and Tom Hanks won again

Travolta was the top choice to play Forrest Gump, but chose to star in Pulp Fiction instead — a film that ended up competing directly against Forrest Gump at the Oscars. Tom Hanks took the title role and won Best Actor, giving him two Oscar wins that came from other actors' decisions.

Burt Reynolds turned down two different roles — and Jack Nicholson won an Oscar for both

Reynolds has said he passed on Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and later on Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment because he was committed to filming Stroker Ace. Jack Nicholson took both roles — and won a Best Actor Oscar for the first and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the second.

Mel Gibson felt too old for Gladiator — Russell Crowe won Best Actor for it

Gibson was offered the role of Maximus in Gladiator but turned it down, reportedly feeling he was too old for the physical demands of the part. Russell Crowe took the role, and it made him a global star while earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Sean Connery said no to Hannibal Lecter — Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor with barely any screen time

Connery reportedly found the Hannibal Lecter role in The Silence of the Lambs too disturbing and declined to be associated with the project. Anthony Hopkins took the part and won the Academy Award for Best Actor despite appearing on screen for only about 16 minutes.

Anne Hathaway left Silver Linings Playbook — Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress at 22

Hathaway was originally attached to play Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook but exited the project over creative differences with the director. Jennifer Lawrence took the role instead, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress at age 22.