After decades of character parts as nerds or ne’er-do-wells, David Strathairn got the performance of a lifetime as Edward R. Murrow in the George Clooney-directed Good night and Good Luck. He lost to the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman in a showier role in Capote — but now more people now his name!

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.