Oscars for Best Actor and Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
![Book cover for Actor, the life and times of Paul Muni](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/5a7f4dfce9ee536a4dd4a7b397cbc308.jpg?itok=2iJXPOll)
Paul Muni -- Best Actor, 1936 for The Story of Louis Pasteur.
![Book cover for Bing Crosby : a pocketful of dreams : the early years, 1903-1940](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/1989b8e01d8d38c47c61833dfeb3d2fe.jpg?itok=PP2-QlgV)
Bing Crosby—Best Actor, 1944 for Going My Way
![Book cover for Bogie : a celebration of the life and films of Humphrey Bogart](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/58a600f1ed0141a6d23b182229923541.jpg?itok=97iK-_h2)
Humphrey Bogart -- Best Actor, 1951 for The African Queen
Delightful recounting of Niven's early Hollywood years. Hilarious anecdotes about movie stars and moguls from Gable to Goldwyn. A must-read for any film buff.
David Niven—Best Actor, 1958 for Separate Tables
![Book cover for Cagney by Cagney](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/60e9aab973f73768f47c0b069efc4f33.jpg?itok=ajUVLk6z)
James Cagney -- Best Actor, 1942 for Yankee Doodle Dandy
![](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/default_images/book-default_2.png?itok=yzidoG7r)
Academy Award, Best Actor, 1944.
![Book cover for Charles Laughton, a difficult actor](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/9eea20ca43ac252d5b4f5682dab019fb.jpg?itok=AOgl8jFL)
Charles Laughton--Best Actor, 1933 for The Private Life of Henry VIII
![Book cover for Denzel Washington : his films and career](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/5c4abe4a8c5c39f0c5a9b4f72a08701f.jpg?itok=-LvJRNCF)
Denzel Washington--Best Actor, 2001 for Training Day
![Book cover for The divine comic : the cinema of Roberto Benigni](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/7ca1a271a06335cff97bb923ce93a58d.jpg?itok=yd56D-Xe)
Roberto Benigni--Best Actor, 1998 for Life is Beautiful
![Book cover for Ernie : the autobiography](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/499e7349e40066a4733acfb1465c1d6f.jpg?itok=EtgdRudw)
Ernest Borgnine—Best Actor, 1955 for Marty
![Book cover for Final Gig : the man behind the murder](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/ecfc23c2ae89c8230941ffafefb458cf.jpg?itok=hqPdsdtw)
Gig Young—Best Supporting Actor, 1970 for They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
![Book cover for Gary Cooper](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/1c7bb8ac0c17819714275b3c33e73c0f.jpg?itok=3j30sEjh)
Academy Award, Best Actor, 1941.
![Book cover for Gene Hackman](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/b1094c7ad92512577fdc18c8c5467611.jpg?itok=vklI6ZmM)
Gene Hackman--Best Actor, 1972 for French Connection; Best Supporting Actor, 1993 for Unforgiven.
![Book cover for George Arliss : the man who played God](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/e2cd543cd1f831138ad20ac77df1d561.jpg?itok=ff-fUi58)
George Arliss--Best Actor, 1929 for Disraeli
![Book cover for Golden boy : the untold story of William Holden](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/7b6af09d4af94a34598653a340b40756.jpg?itok=306atww9)
William Holden—Best Actor, 1953 for Stalag 17
![Book cover for In the arena : an autobiography](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/f5a2ce2a3c3d7252f5d6c3fdee8800b2.jpg?itok=lgrDcDfh)
Charlton Heston—Best Actor, 1959 for Ben-Hur
![Book cover for Jimmy Stewart : a wonderful life](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/1dc5756f06a2e06f5a0f8682cb9afa2e.jpg?itok=NX4aHRPd)
Academy Award, Best Actor, 1940.
![Book cover for The measure of a man : a spiritual autobiography](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/1f720f10dea2cf957178b942d547c3f5.jpg?itok=XUyrTg_e)
Sidney Poitier—Best Actor, 1964 for Lilies of the Field
Witty memoir penned by the actor who starred in "All About Eve" and was Zsa Zsa Gabor's third husband. A sensitive heart beat underneath the churlish exterior, however, and Sanders took his own life several years after the book's publication.
George Sanders—Best Supporting Actor, 1951 for All About Eve
![Book cover for My name escapes me : the diary of a retiring actor](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/22551347bb7e6395e61c64559da0e93a.jpg?itok=GhZpPUbe)
Alec Guinness—Best Actor, 1957 for The Bridge on the River Kwai
![Book cover for Rage and glory : the volatile life and career of George C. Scott](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/2cf678e14afbf57a85e5a9731175dca0.jpg?itok=M1rT6_JN)
George C. Scott, Best Actor, 1970 for Patton. (Scott refused the award, and even tried to get his name withdrawn as a nominee, claiming that he disliked the entire process of actors' performances being voted on in a competitive process.)
![Book cover for Ronald Colman, a very private person : a biography](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/102ba461b62d69bde645aecb73e66c51.jpg?itok=Bi1HOdYj)
Academy Award, Best Actor, 1947.
![Book cover for Sinatra : the chairman](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/60aea6db28298884766367c88f6b147a.jpg?itok=eM57Qa7V)
Continuing where Kaplan’s first volume, Sinatra: the voice left off, this book explores Sinatra at his very peak. He has just won an Oscar for best supporting actor for From Here to Eternity, and has met his creative match in composer Nelson Riddle. Despite his success, Sinatra still struggles with long held demons. Reading more like a novel than non-fiction, Sinatra: the chairman explores the wonder and enigma of the Chairman of the Board.
Frank Sinatra—Best Supporting Actor, 1953 for From Here to Eternity
A monument of theater and film scholarship that more than justifies its length. The life of a regional theater actor in the 1920s, the inner workings of the Hollywood Studio system from the beginning of sound until its disintegration in the sixties, the techniques of the greatest pre-method actor and the stormy yet grand relationship with Katharine Hepburn are covered with thoroughness and insight. A must read for acting students and film buffs.
Spencer Tracy—Best Actor, 1938 (Captains Courageous) and 1939 (Boys Town)
![Book cover for A twist of Lemmon : a tribute to my father](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2020/6b599b8edf9ed25c10d9bcfbc0e88c16.jpg?itok=Supsi6VU)
Jack Lemmon--Best Actor, 1973 for Save the Tiger
![Book cover for We Barrymores](https://lapl.org./sites/default/files/styles/staff_recommends_x97w/public/items/2022/webarrymores.jpg?itok=3dBmI5P8)