Golden Globes 2016: Veteran actors among the nominees include Stallone, Fonda, Smith and Pacino

Good things come to those who wait. At least when it comes to the Golden Globes.

Sylvester Stallone has waited a long time -- 39 years if you’re counting -- to earn another Golden Globe nomination. In 1976, newcomer Stallone received nominations for lead actor in a motion picture drama as well as a screenplay for the original “Rocky.” And he went on to receive Oscar nominations in both categories.

But in the intervening years the only award Stallone has been consistently nominated for has been the Razzies, which “honor” the worst in film for the year.

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But the dry spell finally ended for Stallone on Thursday when he received a supporting actor nomination for reprising his iconic role as Rocky Balboa in “Creed.”

Though actors have earned Golden Globes and Oscars for reprising a role -- Peter O’Toole won the Golden Globe for his performance as Henry II in 1964’s “Beckett” and 1968’s “The Lion in Winter,” Stallone is the only one who has waited four decades to return to the nomination circle.

Other veteran actresses and actors also did well with the Golden Globes on Thursday.

Lily Tomlin earned two nominations Thursday -- lead actress in a motion picture musical for the comedy “Grandma” and lead actress in a TV comedy for “Grace and Frankie.”

The last time she was on the Golden Globes’ radar was in 1994 when as part of the cast of Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts,” Tomlin shared a special award for best ensemble cast.

Tomlin earned her first Globe nomination in 1972 for supporting actress in a TV series for “Rowan & Martin’s “Laugh-In” and received two nominations for Altman’s 1975 classic “Nashville” in the supporting actress category and for acting debut. She was also nominated for lead actress in a musical or comedy for 1978’s “The Late Show” and for 1984’s “All of Me.”

Jane Fonda also returned to the roster of Globe nominees Thursday after a 30-year absence. Fonda, who was nominated for supporting actress for “Youth,” won her first Golden Globe as most promising newcomer female for her debut in 1950’s “Tall Story.” Previously she won for lead actress in a dramatic film for 1971’s “Klute,” 1977’s “Julia” and 1978’s “Coming Home.”

Al Pacino, who earned a lead actor in a motion picture musical or comedy nomination for “Danny Collins,” is a longtime favorite of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., the organization that presents the Golden Globes. He’s been nominated 17 times over the last 43 years, winning four times and also earning the non-competitive Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Maggie Smith, who received a lead actress in a comedy or musical nomination for “Lady in the Van,” was first nominated for a Golden Globe for most promising female newcomer for the 1963 melodrama “The V.I.P’s.” Smith has earned a total of 12 nominations and has won three times, including two years ago for “Downton Abbey.”