1. Gene Hackman, The French Connection
2. Richard Dreyfuss, The Goodbye Girl
3. Jon Voight, Coming Home
4. George C. Scott, Patton
5. Dustin Hoffman, Kramer Vs. Kramer
6. Peter Finch, Network
7. Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
8. Marlon Brando, The Godfather
9. Jack Lemmon, Save the Tiger
10. Art Carney, Harry and Tonto

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