The Best Supporting Actor category always contains a number of candidates and, similar to Best Actor, it is always crowded. This year looks to contain a slew of veteran actors and a number of acclaimed actors who have failed to receive Oscar nominations. The following is a list of hopefuls who were nominated years ago and of those who have yet to get a shot at Oscar glory.

1. Harvey Keitel - "Youth" - Keitel is one of the most respected actors of his generation. However, as of late he has starred in small or character roles that have not shown his great talent. This year could be a comeback for him in Paolo Sorrentino's "Youth." Having opened at Cannes, the movie scored rave reviews for him and put him on the awards radar along with Michael Caine. Keitel has not been nominated since 1992 when he was shortlisted for "Bugsy." With Fox Searchlight releasing the film in December, the company will likely launch a big campaign for the film.

2. Tom Hardy - "The Revenant" - Hardy is probably one of the most talented actors of his generation and has proven himself in numerous roles. His work in "Locke" was a standout last year and even garnered him the Best Actor award with the Los Angeles Film Critics. He was also a standout in "Inception," "Bronson" and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." With this impressive resume, the Oscar nomination has eluded him. This year could be a turning point as his work in "The Revenant" has already obtained buzz and the Academy has nominated every single Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu film for at least one category. Hardy is beloved in Hollywood and he is having a great year especially with the success of "Mad Max." This could also boost his chances at a first nomination.

3. Benicio del Toro - "Sicario" - The Puerto Rican actor may have won an Oscar back in 2001 for his work in "Traffic" but he has not been present as a nominee since 2004 when he was nominated for "21 Grams." Throughout the years, the actor has had formidable roles including "Che" and the recent "Escobar: Paradise Lost" but has failed to obtain a third nomination. This year, his work in "Sicario" has already obtained raves out of Cannes and that could lead to him to be shortlisted. However, the film is being released in September, which can sometimes be too early for a movie to gain awards traction.

4. Ralph Fiennes - "A Bigger Splash" - Fiennes is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation and for most it is a crime that he has never won a single Oscar. The actor has been nominated twice for his work in "Schindler's List" and for "The English Patient." Yet he has been ignored for his work in "The Duchess," "The Invisible Woman," "The Constant Gardener," "In Bruges" and most recently "The Grand Budapest Hotel." This year he joins Tilda Swinton in "A Bigger Splash," a film that looks promising and that will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. While it is unknown how good the film is, Fox Searchlight acquired it and intends to give it a huge awards campaign. If the film garners raves and becomes a big contender, Fiennes could find himself at the Dolby Theater as a three-time nominee.

5. Bradley Cooper - "Joy" - Technically Cooper is not attempting a comeback as he has been nominated for the past three years. However, his streak has yet to lead him to a win. This year, David O. Russell's new film "Joy" could lead him to his first win. With Russell, Cooper has obtained two of his three nominations and his part in "Joy" is extremely important and apparently showy. However, if Cooper is overshadowed by Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez, then he could go home empty handed.

Other actors who could be nominated for Best Supporting Actor include Samuel L. Jackson ("The Hateful Eight"), Bruce Dern ("The Hateful Eight"), Seth Rogen ("Steve Jobs") and Jude Law ("Genius").

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