“I’d rather have a Heisman Trophy than an Oscar”: Losing Oscars Race to Robin Williams Devastated One of the Most Bankable Stars of Hollywood

The late actor and comedian Robin Williams was a four-time Oscar nominee. It was in 1998 when he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This accolade was given to him in recognition of his efforts in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting, a screenplay by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and directed by Gus Van Sant. Contending for this honor was another legendary Hollywood star—Burt Reynolds, for his embodiment of Jack Horner in Boogie Nights (1997).

Burt Reynolds was devastated after Robin Williams won Best Supporting Actor at the 1998 Oscars…

Rarely do we think about how those who lose might feel when someone wins in a competition. The same goes for prestigious award ceremonies like the Oscars. Some actors win, and many fail to triumph. Reynolds must have felt much more strongly about this because it was his first and only nomination for an Academy Award. In his memoir, the late ’70s icon hinted at how crushing it was to miss out on the opportunity of securing an Oscar win.

Burt Reynolds Was Devastated On Losing The Oscar Race

Burt Reynolds

Many people observed Burt Reynolds‘ woeful expression during the Best Supporting Actor Award announcement at the 1998 Oscars. Without a smile, the actor could only clap at the outcome. There is no doubt that Robin Williams deserved to win. However, the talent exuded by the ’70s legend in Boogie Nights, despite his alleged reservations against the production’s director, was a testament to his acting proficiency. In his memoir titled But Enough About Me (via The Sydney Morning Herald), the Deliverance alum confessed the following:

“I once said that I’d rather have a Heisman Trophy than an Oscar. I lied.”

While his Oscar dreams couldn’t be realized, his depiction of Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. This significant triumph must have elevated Reynolds’ expectations. Alas, his Oscar nomination couldn’t secure a win.

Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights (1997)

In an interview with SiriusXM, Boogie Nights co-star Mark Wahlberg believed that Burt Reynolds should’ve won the prestigious accolade for his performance in the film:

“You know, Burt is a legend. It was amazing having that experience of Boogie Nights with him. I think it was tough for him. He should’ve definitely won the Oscar.”

The production process of Boogie Nights was particularly difficult for Reynolds, who once told Conan O’Brien that he had yet to watch the film. “It wasn’t my kind of film,” he had affirmed on the talk show. His reported on-set feud with director Paul Thomas Anderson must’ve worsened matters.

The renowned talent’s failure to receive an Oscar must have plagued him, yet his impact on popular culture continues to astound. His filmography validates his abilities even in the absence of the honor. Winning the award doesn’t hurt. Most talents yearn for it. However, it shouldn’t be a parameter to one’s success.

We’ve seen Burt Reynolds’ perspective on Robin Williams‘ Oscar win. But what did the legendary comedian himself feel about the life-changing honor?

Robin Williams On Winning An Oscar

Robin Williams

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show years before his unfortunate passing, legendary, highly-revered comedian Robin Williams was asked to share feelings about winning an Oscar in 1998. Norton queried, “Did it change your life? “This made the Dead Poets Society star remark that, unlike the status people attach to the prestigious accolade, nothing much changed for the actor—barring one regret that haunted him for a while.

He stated:

“The moment they say your name when you win, English becomes a second language. And I forgot to thank my mother, and she was in the audience… Even the therapist went, ‘Get out!’ That was rough for the next few years. (mimics his mother) ‘Well, how’s the award? You came through here (points at his crotch). How’s the award?’”

Being up on the stage while receiving an Oscar is known to leave the most extraordinary talents stumped. Williams cannot be blamed.

Both Burt Reynolds and Robin Williams have shaped Hollywood history in more ways than one. The two no longer walk amongst the rest of us, but their contributions to cinema and popular culture have immortalized them in the hearts of many. It’s hard not to reflect on their legacy and deem the Academy Award a peripheral parameter to their success and impact.