Marvel Actor's Hearing Loss Leads to Historic Oscar Snub
A veteran Hollywood star sacrificed 60% of his hearing for a survival film role at age 77, only to be completely ignored by the Academy Awards in what many consider the biggest snub in Oscar history.
Oscar history is filled with shocking oversights, but one stands above all others. Robert Redford, known to Marvel fans as Alexander Pierce from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, experienced what many consider the most egregious Academy snub ever recorded.
The 2013 survival thriller All is Lost pushed the then-77-year-old actor to his physical limits. Redford chose authentic filmmaking over safety, enduring daily water cannon blasts to his face. The commitment cost him permanently. He lost 60% of his hearing in one ear.
The Physical Toll of Authentic Performance
All is Lost demanded everything from its sole performer. Redford carried the entire film alone, speaking just 51 words across nearly two hours of screen time. The movie follows a man stranded at sea, fighting for survival against impossible odds.
Water cannons fired directly at Redford's face every shooting day. The realistic approach created genuine desperation on screen. It also destroyed much of his hearing forever. At 77, most actors would demand stunt doubles. Redford insisted on doing it himself.
Academy's Complete Dismissal
The film earned Oscar nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score. It won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score. Redford himself won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor.
The Academy ignored him completely. No nomination. No recognition. Matthew McConaughey took home Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club instead. The oversight becomes more shocking when considering Redford's limited Oscar history.
A Career Without Acting Recognition
Redford received just one acting nomination in his entire career. The 1974 nod for The Sting represents his sole Academy recognition as a performer. He won Best Director for Ordinary People in 1981. An Honorary Oscar came in 2002 for his broader contributions to cinema.
But for pure acting? The Academy largely ignored one of Hollywood's biggest names. All is Lost represented his best chance for redemption. The performance showcased decades of experience distilled into raw survival instinct. Critics praised his wordless communication and physical commitment.
The film earned a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite earning just $13 million worldwide. Commercial success didn't matter. Redford had delivered a masterclass in minimalist acting while sacrificing his health for authenticity.