Fun with names

How many Oscar-winning actors and actresses have last names that can be found in the dictionary as uncapitalized entries? For example, both Naomi Watts and Tom Cruise, who have been nominated, would be on this list if they’d actually won, since “watts” and “cruise” are uncapitalized words that can be found in any dictionary.

Focusing on just the best actor and best actress rosters, I found 18 best actor winners (one of which is slightly shady), and 17 best actress winners. The lists are below — see how many of them your friends can come up with.

Fine Line Features 1996 Clark Gable starred with Claudette Colbert in “It Happened One Night” in 1934. Geoffrey Rush won a best actor Oscar for his role as a pianist in “Shine” in 1996.

Columbia Pictures 1934 Helen Hunt played opposite Jack Nicholson in “As Good as it Gets” in 1997.

Columbia / TriStar 1997 Norma Shearer won a best actress Oscar for her role in “The Divorcee” in 1930.

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