Biography
His charm, intelligence and strength informed a wide variety of roles, from underdog boxer Rocky Graziano in "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1955) and the damaged Brick in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958), to roguish antiheros like "Harper" (1966), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) and Butch Cassidy in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) - the latter of which showcased his famed partnership with Robert Redford. The two reprised their onscreen …
Career Milestones
2006 | Voiced Doc Hudson in the Pixar animated feature "Cars" |
2005 | Starred (also executived produced) in the HBO mini-series "Empire Falls" (lensed 2002); adapted and directed by Robert Benton |
2003 | Cast as the Stage Manager in the Showtime adaptation of "Our Town"; earned Emmy and SAG nominations |
2002 | Co-starred with Tom Hanks in Sam Mendes' "The Road to Perdition"; earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations |
2000 | Returned to the stage after more than four decades to co-star with Woodard in "Ancestral Voices" |
1999 | Made rare stage appearance in "Love Letters" alongside Joanne Woodward |
1999 | Portrayed Kevin Costner's father in "Message in a Bottle" |
1998 | Reteamed with Benton (director and co-screenwriter) for "Twilight" |
1994 | Played the lead in "Nobody's Fool" adapted and directed by Robert Benton; earned seventh Oscar nomination |
1994 | Starred as the villain of the Coen Brothers' extravagent "The Hudsucker Proxy" |
1990 | Acted opposite Woodward in the Merchant-Ivory production "Mr & Mrs Bridge" |
1987 | Signed a three-year non-exclusive agreement with Walt Disney Pictures (January) |
1987 | Directed an adaptation of Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" featuring Joanne Woodward, John Malkovich, Karen Allen, and James Naughton |
1986 | Returned to the screen as 'Fast' Eddie Felson in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money"; won first Oscar for Best Actor |
1984 | Debut as co-screenwriter on "Harry and Son" |
1982 | Portrayed a Boston lawyer who's hit bottom in Sidney Lumet's "The Verdict"; earned sixth Oscar nomination for acting |
1981 | Received first Oscar nomination in 14 years (since 1967) for "Absence of Malice" |
1979 | TV directing debut, "The Shadow Box" (starring Woodward); received an Emmy nomination for directing |
1979 | Again collaborated with Robert Altman on "Quintet" |
1977 | Third and final film with George Roy Hill, the hockey comedy-drama "Slap Shot" |
1976 | Played Buffalo Bill in Robert Altman's "Buffalo Bill and the Indians" |
1975 | Reprised role as private eye Lew Harper in "The Drowning Pool" |
1973 | Reunited with Redford and director Hill for the Oscar-winning caper movie "The Sting" |
1971 | Directed (also co-executive produced and starred in) the screen version of Ken Kesey's novel "Sometimes a Great Notion" |
1969 | First film opposite Robert Redford, George Roy Hill's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" |
1969 | Co-founded First Artists Production Company Ltd with Sidney Poitier, Steve McQueen, Barbra Streisand and others |
1968 | Feature directing and producing debut, "Rachel, Rachel"; earned an Oscar nomination for directing |
1967 | Sixth and final collaboration with director Ritt, "Hombre" |
1967 | Starred in Stuart Rosenberg's "Cool Hand Luke" as hardboiled egg-eating convict; earned fifth Oscar nomination |
1966 | Had title role of "Harper" a private eye |
1966 | Only collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock, "Torn Curtain" |
1964 | Last stage appearance for nearly four decades, the Off-Broadway play "Baby Wants a Kiss" |
1963 | Earned fourth Oscar nod for portraying the title role in Martin Ritt's "Hud" |
1962 | Reprised role in the film adaptation of "Sweet Bird of Youth"; second collaboration with director Brooks; earned third Oscar nomination |
1961 | Portrayed 'Fast' Eddie Felson opposite Jackie Gleason's 'Minnesota Fats' in Robert Rossen's "The Hustler"; earned second Best Actor Oscar nomination |
1959 | Returned to the stage playing Chance Wayne in Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth" |
1958 | Delivered sensational perfomance as Brick in Richard Brooks' adaptation of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"; earned first Oscar nomination as Best Actor |
1958 | First film opposite Joanne Woodward, "The Long Hot Summer"; first collaboration with director Martin Ritt |
1956 | Breakout role as boxer Rocky Graziano in Robert Wise's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" |
1955 | Returned to Broadway in the thriller "The Desperate Hours" |
1954 | Film acting debut, "The Silver Chalice" |
1953 | Broadway theater debut in William Inge's "Picnic"; met future wife Joanne Woodward who was an understudy |
1952 | TV-acting debut, "Kraft Television Theatre" |
1950 | Managed the family sporting goods business after his father's death |
1943 | Dropped from flight training (because he was color blind) and spent WWII as a US Naval Reserve radio operator |
Awards
2006 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries in Empire Falls |
2005 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Empire Falls |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in Empire Falls |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in Empire Falls |
2004 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries in Our Town |
2003 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In a Miniseries or Movie in Our Town |
2002 | BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Road to Perdition |
2002 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Road to Perdition |
2002 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Road to Perdition |
2002 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in Road to Perdition |
1995 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in Nobody's Fool |
1995 | Berlin International Film Festival for Silver Bear for Best Actor in Nobody's Fool |
1994 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Nobody's Fool |
1994 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Nobody's Fool |
1994 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in Nobody's Fool |
1994 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Nobody's Fool |
1986 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Color of Money |
1986 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in The Color of Money |
1986 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Color of Money |
1985 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Life Achievement |
1983 | Golden Globe Award for Cecil B. DeMille Award |
1982 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Verdict |
1982 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Verdict |
1981 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Absence of Malice |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing In a Limited Series or a Special in The Shadow Box |
1970 | BAFTA Award for Actor in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid |
1968 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director in Rachel, Rachel |
1968 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Rachel, Rachel |
1968 | Academy Award for Best Picture in Rachel, Rachel |
1968 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Rachel, Rachel |
1967 | Academy Award for Actor in Cool Hand Luke |
1967 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Cool Hand Luke |
1965 | Golden Globe Award for Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) |
1963 | Golden Globe Award for Henrietta Award (World Film Favorites) |
1963 | Academy Award for Actor in Hud |
1963 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Hud |
1963 | BAFTA Award for Foreign Actor in Hud |
1962 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Adventures of a Young Man |
1962 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Sweet Bird of Youth |
1961 | Academy Award for Actor in The Hustler |
1961 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Hustler |
1961 | BAFTA Award for Foreign Actor in The Hustler |
1958 | Academy Award for Actor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof |
1958 | BAFTA Award for Foreign Actor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof |
1958 | Cannes Film Festival for Best Actor in The Long, Hot Summer |
1956 | Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor |