2015
• Golden Globe, Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for The Judge
• Academy Award, Actor in a Supporting Role for The Judge
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for The Judge

2011
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Get Low

2007
• Emmy (Primetime), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Broken Trail
• Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Broken Trail
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Broken Trail

1999
• Golden Globe, Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for A Civil Action
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for A Civil Action
• Academy Award, Actor in a Supporting Role for A Civil Action

1998
• Academy Award, Actor in a Leading Role for The Apostle
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for The Apostle

1997
• Emmy (Primetime), Outstanding Lead Actor for a Miniseries or Special for The Man Who Captured Eichmann
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for The Man Who Captured Eichmann
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Sling Blade

1993
• Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for Stalin
• Emmy (Primetime), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Stalin

1990
• Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for Lonesome Dove

1989
• Emmy (Primetime), Outstanding Lead Actor for a Miniseries or Special for Lonesome Dove

1984
• Golden Globe, Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for Tender Mercies
• Academy Award, Actor in a Leading Role for Tender Mercies

1981
• Academy Award, Actor in a Leading Role for The Great Santini

1980
• Golden Globe, Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Apocalypse Now
• Academy Award, Actor in a Supporting Role for Apocalypse Now

1979
• British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Supporting Actor for Apocalypse Now

1978
• British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Supporting Actor for Network

1973
• British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Supporting Actor for The Godfather
• Academy Award, Actor in a Supporting Role for The Godfather