Oscar nominee profiles

A look at the best supporting actor nominees for the 85th Academy Awards.

ALAN ARKIN

Age: 78

Nominated for: Argo

The character: Lester Siegel

Oscar record: Won the best supporting actor for Little Miss Sunshine (2006). Two other nominations for best actor - The Russians are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1967) and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968).

The critics said: "Arkin plays the showbiz satire straight, which makes the one-liners all the funnier, and he imbues his Hollywood has-been with the bone-deep knowledge that, in this town, appearances are everything." Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times

ROBERT DE NIRO

Age: 69

Nominated for: Silver Linings Playbook

The character: Patrizio 'Pat Sr.' Solitano

Oscar record: Won two - best supporting actor for The Godfather: Part II (1975) and best actor for Raging Bull (1981). Nominated for best actor on four other occasions - for Taxi Driver (1976), The Deer Hunter (1979), Awakenings (1991) and Cape Fear (1992)

The critics said: "It's a performance that many are hailing as a comeback, if only because it's been a while since De Niro has demonstrated such nuance and emotion in a film seen and liked by so many." Scott Feinberg, Hollywood Reporter.

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN

Age: 45

Nominated for: The Master

The character: Lancaster Dodd

Oscar record: Won the best actor Oscar for Capote (2006). Two other best actor nominations - for Charlie Wilson's War (2008) and Doubt (2009).

The critics said: "Hoffman, his face furnished with a debonair moustache, is again perfect to the bone. His Dodd is equal parts charlatan and showman, and both his smile and his sneer are things to avoid." Joe Nuemaier, New York Daily News.

TOMMY LEE JONES

Age: 66

Nominated for: Lincoln

The character: Thaddeus Stevens

Oscar record: Won best supporting actor for The Fugitive (1994). He was nominated for best actor for In The Valley of Elah (2008) and best supporting actor for JFK (1992)

The critics said: "The actor's portrayal of the rapier-tongued Pennsylvania congressman Thaddeus Stevens is one of the cornerstones of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln." Frank DiGiacomo, Movieline.

CHRISTOPH WALTZ

Age: 56

Nominated for: Django Unchained

The character: Dr. King Schultz

Oscar record: Won best supporting actor for Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2010).

The critics said: "With Tarantino's latest, Django Unchained, the actor may have even topped himself. Actors praise their co-stars movie after movie, but rarely with the authenticity that the cast of Django bestows upon Waltz." Matt Patches, Hollywood.com