Whoâ€™s fallen victim to the Oscar curse?

There are so many first-time nominees for this year's Oscars (Matthew McConaughey, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jared Leto, Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, June Squibb, Sally Hawkins) that it will be exciting to see how many take home the golden boy. But you have to be careful what you wish for when it comes to winning an Oscar. The history of the Academy Awards is rife with those tarnished stars who peaked early, got their one nomination and win and then were never nominated again. It's like being popular in high school — the morning after the prom can be bleak, indeed. These stars, after their date with Oscar, have yet to be invited back to the party. For some, it's been more than 10 years.

Adrien Brody

Photo: Guy Ferrandis

Best Actor, "The Pianist" (2002)

An Oscar-baity role in an Oscar-baity film (about the Holocaust) helped Brody, who has made a lot of commercials since winning, beat out Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Gangs of New York" and Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt."

Halle Berry

Photo: Halle Berry

Best Actress, "Monster's Ball" (2001)

Berry made history when she took home the Oscar for her role as a grieving mother — the first African-American actress to win in the lead category. Since then, there have been more misses than hits and Berry has made the greatest impact on the red carpet, where she is always a stunner.

Jennifer Connelly

Best Supporting Actress, "A Beautiful Mind" (2001)

Connelly had the lead female role in this Russell Crowe acting showcase where he played troubled mathematician John Nash, and beat out the more traditionally supporting performances of Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith in "Gosford Park," Marisa Tomei in "In the Bedroom" and Kate Winslet in "Iris." Despite some fine performances since, Connelly has yet to be recognized again by the Academy.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Best Supporting Actor, "Jerry Maguire" (1996)

Gooding gave one of the best Oscar acceptance speeches ever, but the sheer exuberance he displayed onstage never found its way into a decent project afterward. Truly a victim of the Oscar curse.

Timothy Hutton

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actor, "Ordinary People" (1980)

Hutton won a well-deserved Oscar for his memorable portrait of a teenager haunted by the death of his brother in Robert Redford's film about suburban family life. His magic moment came and went when he was only 20 years old.

Catherine Zeta-Jone

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actress, "Chicago" (2003)

A terrific song-and-dance performance from CZJ won her an Oscar. A lone nomination in a mixed career that has been plagued by personal difficulties and scandal.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Actress, "Shakespeare in Love" (1998)

The go-to actress of the late '90s, Paltrow was radiant in a pink gown when she accepted her Oscar, but recent years haven't been kind to the former It girl, now in her 40s, and her public image has taken a tumble.

Mira Sorvino

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actress, "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995)

Woody Allen's track record for winning Oscars for actresses (Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest) rubbed off on Sorvino, who was later best known for being in the chick flick "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion." Sorvino has tried in recent years to relaunch her career on TV.