These nominations stemmed from his performances in films and TV series like Network (1976), Friendly Fire (1979), Last Train Home (1990), Hear My Song (1991) and the adaptation movie "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (2004).

He had great commercial success in memorable roles such as the executive Bobby Trippe in Deliverance (1972), Tennessee lawyer Delbert Reese in Nashville (1975), general attorney Dardis in All the President's Men (1976), the priest Edwards in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Lex Luthor's henchman Otis in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980), Bates' right hand man Sydney Morehouse in The Toy (1982), twice characters Borisov and Pavel Petrovic in The Fourth Protocol (1987), TV presenter Ernest Weller in Repossessed (1990), Rudy Ruettiger's father in Rudy (1993), detective McNair in Just Cause (1995), Ray and Claude's warden/employer Dexter Wilkins in Life (1999), the simple sheriff in Where the Red Fern Grows (2003), the corrupt Senator Charles F. Meachum in Shooter (2007), United States Congressman Doc Long in Charlie Wilson's War (2007) and the voice of antagonist Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear in Toy Story 3 (2010).

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