Martin Scorsese, "The Aviator"
Career nominations: 7

Scorsese might be one of the most influential filmmakers of the last half-century, but the director, 62, has yet to win an Oscar. He receives his fifth Academy Award nomination in this category for his epic biopic about Howard Hughes. Scorsese was previously nominated for a best director Oscar for 1980's "Raging Bull," 1988's "The Last Temptation of Christ," 1990's "GoodFellas" and 2002's "Gangs of New York."

(Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)