Awards & Winners

Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead

Independent Spirit Awards

The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Male Lead is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.
Date Established : 1986

Check all the winners of Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead presented under Independent Spirit Awards since 1986 .


Jean Dujardin

Honored for : The Artist

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Demián Bichir A Better Life
Jean Dujardin The Artist
Ryan Gosling Drive
Role: Driver
Woody Harrelson Rampart
Michael Shannon Take Shelter

James Franco

Honored for : 127 Hours

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ben Stiller Greenberg
John C. Reilly Cyrus
Aaron Eckhart Rabbit Hole
James Franco 127 Hours
Ronald Bronstein Daddy Longlegs

Jeff Bridges

Honored for : Crazy Heart

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Souléymane Sy Savané Goodbye Solo
Jeff Bridges Crazy Heart
Colin Firth A Single Man
Adam Scott The Vicious Kind
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500) Days of Summer

Mickey Rourke

Honored for : The Wrestler

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sean Penn Milk
Jeremy Renner The Hurt Locker
Richard Jenkins The Visitor
Mickey Rourke The Wrestler
Javier Bardem Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Honored for : The Savages

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Pedro Castaneda August Evening
Tony Leung Chiu Wai Lust, Caution
Frank Langella Starting Out in the Evening
Don Cheadle Talk to Me
Philip Seymour Hoffman The Savages

Ryan Gosling

Honored for : Half Nelson

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Forest Whitaker American Gun
Ryan Gosling Half Nelson
Ahmad Razvi Man Push Cart
Aaron Eckhart Thank You for Smoking
Edward Norton The Painted Veil

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Honored for : Capote

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Heath Ledger Brokeback Mountain
Philip Seymour Hoffman Capote
David Strathairn Good Night, and Good Luck
Terrence Howard Hustle & Flow
Jeff Daniels The Squid and the Whale

Paul Giamatti

Honored for : Sideways

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Liam Neeson Kinsey
Jamie Foxx Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story
Paul Giamatti Sideways
Jeff Bridges The Door in the Floor
Kevin Bacon The Woodsman

Bill Murray

Honored for : Lost in Translation

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Paul Giamatti American Splendor
Ben Kingsley House of Sand and Fog
Bill Murray Lost in Translation
Lee Pace Soldier's Girl
Peter Dinklage The Station Agent

Derek Luke

Honored for : Antwone Fisher

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Derek Luke Antwone Fisher
Jeremy Renner Dahmer
Danny Huston Ivans Xtc
Campbell Scott Roger Dodger
Graham Greene Skins

Tom Wilkinson

Honored for : In the Bedroom

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jake Gyllenhaal Donnie Darko
John Cameron Mitchell Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Tom Wilkinson In the Bedroom
Brian Cox L.I.E.
Ryan Gosling The Believer

Javier Bardem

Honored for : Before Night Falls

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Javier Bardem Before Night Falls
Billy Crudup Jesus' Son
Adrien Brody Restaurant
Hill Harper The Visit
Mark Ruffalo You Can Count on Me

Richard Farnsworth

Honored for : The Straight Story

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Cusack Being John Malkovich
David Strathairn Limbo
Noble Willingham The Corndog Man
Terence Stamp The Limey
Richard Farnsworth The Straight Story

Ian McKellen

Honored for : Gods and Monsters

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nick Nolte Affliction
Courtney B. Vance Blind Faith
Ian McKellen Gods and Monsters
Dylan Baker Happiness
Sean Penn Hurlyburly

Robert Duvall

Honored for : The Apostle

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Turturro Box of Moonlight
Philip Baker Hall Hard Eight
Robert Duvall The Apostle
Peter Fonda Ulee's Gold
Christopher Guest Waiting for Guffman

William H. Macy

Honored for : Fargo

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tony Shalhoub Big Night
William H. Macy Fargo
Chris Cooper Lone Star
Chris Penn The Funeral
Stanley Tucci Big Night

Sean Penn

Honored for : Dead Man Walking

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sean Penn Dead Man Walking
Nicolas Cage Leaving Las Vegas
Tim Roth Little Odessa
Jimmy Smits My Family
Kevin Spacey Swimming with Sharks

Samuel L. Jackson

Honored for : Pulp Fiction

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sihung Lung Eat Drink Man Woman
Jon Seda I Like It Like That
Campbell Scott Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
William H. Macy Oleanna
Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction

Jeff Bridges

Honored for : American Heart

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jeff Bridges American Heart
Matthew Modine Equinox
Vincent D'Onofrio Household Saints
Tyrin Turner Menace II Society
Mitchell Lichtenstein The Wedding Banquet

Harvey Keitel

Honored for : Bad Lieutenant

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Harvey Keitel Bad Lieutenant
Laurence Fishburne Deep Cover
Peter Greene Laws of Gravity
Craig Chester Swoon
Michael Rapaport Zebrahead

River Phoenix

Honored for : My Own Private Idaho

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Doug E. Doug Hangin' with the Homeboys
River Phoenix My Own Private Idaho
William Russ Pastime
Robert Duvall Rambling Rose
Gary Oldman Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Danny Glover

Honored for : To Sleep with Anger

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Rooker Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Christopher Reid House Party
Christian Slater Pump Up the Volume
Martin Priest The Plot Against Harry
Danny Glover To Sleep with Anger

Matt Dillon

Honored for : Drugstore Cowboy

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Matt Dillon Drugstore Cowboy
Randy Quaid Parents
James Spader Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Charles Lane Sidewalk Stories
Nicolas Cage Vampire's Kiss

Edward James Olmos

Honored for : Stand and Deliver

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Chris Mulkey Patti Rocks
Edward James Olmos Stand and Deliver
Eric Bogosian Talk Radio
James Woods The Boost
Harvey Fierstein Torch Song Trilogy

Dennis Quaid

Honored for : The Big Easy

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mickey Rourke Barfly
James Woods Best Seller
Spalding Gray Swimming to Cambodia
Dennis Quaid The Big Easy
Terry O'Quinn The Stepfather

James Woods

Honored for : Salvador

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dennis Hopper Blue Velvet
Roberto Benigni Down by Law
Victor Love Native Son
Willem Dafoe Platoon
James Woods Salvador

M. Emmet Walsh

Honored for : Blood Simple

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
M. Emmet Walsh Blood Simple
Rubén Blades Crossover Dreams
Treat Williams Smooth Talk
Tom Bower Wildrose