This is his first Academy Award. He was once nominated in 2008, for best supporting actor for “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.”

The actor beat strong contenders Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) and Denzel Washington (Fences).

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"Manchester by the Sea" stars the actor alongside Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges.

The plot follows a man who looks after his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.