THE 67TH ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS : Best Actor

Morgan Freeman

“The Shawshank Redemption”

His performance as a savvy prisoner marks Freeman’s third Oscar nomination. He received a best supporting nomination for 1987’s “Street Smart” and a best actor nod for 1989’s “Driving Miss Daisy.” He also received a Golden Globe nomination.

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Tom Hanks

“Forrest Gump”

Hanks, who was voted best actor last year for “Philadelphia,” has a chance to win back-to-back Oscars for his work in the $300-million box-office phenomenon. His Gump turn won him the Golden Globe. His previous Oscar nomination: 1988’s “Big.”

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Nigel Hawthorne

“The Madness of King George”

Hawthorne, best known for his work in British theater, receives his first Oscar nomination re-creating his stage triumph as the British monarch who suffered from a mysterious madness. Hawthorne received a 1991 Tony Award for his role as C.S. Lewis in “Shadowlands.”

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Paul Newman

“Nobody’s Fool”

For his performance as a 60-year-old scamp, the veteran received best actor awards from the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics. He also was a Golden Globe nominee. He won best actor for his seventh nomination, 1986’s “The Color of Money.”

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John Travolta

“Pulp Fiction”

The comeback kid, Travolta was the L.A. Film Critics’ best actor for his performance as a heroin-addicted hit man. Travolta, who came to fame 20 years ago on TV’s “Welcome Back, Kotter,” was a best actor nominee for 1977’s “Saturday Night Fever.”