26 stars with the most Oscar nominations of all time

Each year, the biggest names in Hollywood gather to see who will receive an Academy Award for their work in film. It's a ceremony that recognizes the people responsible for creating movies that viewers want to watch and talk about, from actors to screenwriters. 

There are some actors who have received not one, but several awards (like Daniel Day-Lewis, who has three Oscars), and others who have been nominated multiple times for their work (like Meryl Streep, who has more nominations than any other actor). 

In preparation for the 91st Academy Awards, which airs on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC, here's a look at the actors who have received the most Oscar nominations. 

Amy Daire and Mallory Schlossberg contributed to a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: 15 people who have won an EGOT, the most coveted award in Hollywood

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Meryl Streep, 21 nominations (3 wins)

Most recently, Streep was nominated for an Oscar at the 2018 Academy Awards for her work in "The Post." She won her previous awards for "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), "Sophie's Choice" (1982), and "The Iron Lady" (2011).

Katharine Hepburn, 12 (4 wins)

Hepburn won her awards for "Morning Glory" (1933), "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967), "The Lion in Winter" (1968), and "On Golden Pond" (1981)

Jack Nicholson, 12 nominations (3 wins)

He won gold for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), "Terms of Endearment" (1983), and "As Good as It Gets" (1997).