Oscars 2015: J.K. Simmons, Rosamund Pike and Other Lesser Known Nominees

— -- J.K. Simmons has been entertaining audiences for decades and is now getting his due as an Oscar nominee for his amazing performance in "Whiplash."

But there are others like Simmons that you kind of know, but not in the way you know a Bradley Cooper or a Reese Witherspoon.

Here are 5 nominees to look out for on Sunday night:

1 - J.K. Simmons - 'Whiplash'

Simmons, 60, may not have been a star before "Whiplash," but he had the acting chops all along, taking on a variety of roles: In "Oz," he played evil Vern Schillinger, in the "Spider-Man" franchise, he portrayed grumpy J. Jonah Jameson and in "Juno," he showed off his softer side, playing an understanding father to a pregnant teenager. (Plus, he's pretty awesome in those Farmers Insurance ads.) In "Whiplash," Simmons, a married father of three in real life, plays Fletcher, the borderline abusive band teacher who pushed Miles Teller's character to the brink of greatness or maybe breaking point.

2 - Rosamund Pike - 'Gone Girl'

Rosamund Pike was nominated for her chilling role as Amy Dunne in "Gone Girl," but this 35-year-old actress has a face you should recognize. This British beauty starred opposite Tom Cruise in "Jack Reacher," opposite Bruce Willis in "Surrogates" and opposite Ryan Gosling in "Fracture." Great co-stars, but all movies not widely acclaimed.

Looks like Pike just needed the intense writing her acting prowess deserved and with "Gone Girl." A recent first-time mom, she should soon begin filming "The Mountain Between Us," featuring "Sons of Anarchy" heartthrob Charlie Hunnam/

3 - Morten Tyldum - 'The Imitation Game'

Morten Tyldum is the talented director behind "The Imitation Game," starring Oscar nominees Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. The reason you may not know the Norwegian filmmaker's name is because "Imitation" is his first English-language movie, according to the International Business Times.

In the film, Tyldum told the story of Alan Turing, who cracked Germany's Enigma Code during WWII. The tale, which also focuses on Turing's homosexuality, has really touched and educated millions about the past.

"We’re having a real physical impact with this movie. The attention to the homosexual law may get who's ever been convicted by this law a pardon. That’s a huge victory," Tyldum told the International Business Times in an interview earlier this week. "Why should Alan Turing get a pardon, and not everyone else? They didn’t do anything different. I got a very touching email from a 92 year-old man who had been convicted by the same law as Alan Turing thanking me. He said he watched the movie in tears and thanked me for shining a light on this story. How many families, how many lives, had been affected by this?"

4 - Patricia Arquette - 'Boyhood'

Patricia Arquette, 46, filmed "Boyhood" over a 12-year span, but she was also starring in other hit shows and films during that time. Arquette, a mother of two, was a standout in the final two season of "Boardwalk Empire" and was the series lead in "Medium" from 2005 to 2011. Other notable roles for the actress include "Stigmata" and "True Romance."

She comes from a famous family too: Arquette is the sister of actor David Arquette, Alexis Arquette, Richmond Arquette, and Rosanna Arquette.

Next up for Arquette is "CSI: Cyber," which she is filming this year.

5 - Felicity Jones - 'The Theory of Everything'

At just 31, you might think Felicity Jones is a relative newcomer to the big screen, but you'd be wrong. Jones got her start at 12 in "The Treasure Seekers" opposite another Oscar nominee, Keira Knightley.

After that, she took some time off and went to college, but following her graduation in 2006, she started to make a name for herself. She starred in 2011's "Like Crazy" and "The Invisible Woman" two years later. She was even featured in last year's "Amazing Spider-Man 2."

Now Jones is a big timer and is filming "Autobahn" alongside Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley. Talk about an iconic cast.