- 2008: Played kung fu master, Shifu in the animated feature, "Kung Fu Panda"
- 2008: Co-starred with Emma Thompson in the romantic comedy "Last Chance Harvey"
- 2008: Nominated for the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy ("Last Chance Harvey")
- 2007: Played an eccentric toy shop owner in the fantasy film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"
- 2006: Cast in Andy Garcia's feature directorial debut "The Lost City"
- 2006: Co-starred as a literary expert opposite Will Ferrell in the Marc Forster comedy, "Stranger Than Fiction"
- 2004: Stars opposite Jude Law and Naomi Watts in David O. Russell's comedy "I Heart Huckabees"
- 2004: Starred opposite Johnny Depp in "Finding Neverland" which details the experiences of 'Peter Pan' author J.M. Barrie
- 2004: Cast as Ben Stiller's father in "Meet the Fockers," the follow-up to 2000's hit "Meet the Parents"
- 2003: Played a mob boss in the drama "Confidence"
- 2003: Co-starred in the thriller "Runaway Jury"
- 2002: Played opposite Susan Sarandon in the touching drama "Moonlight Mile"
- 2001: Announced to make feature directorial debut with "Personal Injuries"
- 1999: Produced "The Blouse Man," which marked the directorial debut of actor Tony Goldwyn
- 1998: Reteamed with Levinson for "Sphere"
- 1997: Received rave reviews for his portrayal of a Hollywood producer (reportedly based on Robert Evans) in Barry Levinson's political satire "Wag the Dog"; earned Best Actor Academy Award nomination
- 1995: Inducted into the French Order of Arts and Letters
- 1991: Provided a guest voice for "The Simpsons" as Lisa's beloved Jewish substitute teacher; credited as "Sam Etic"
- 1988: Won second Oscar as Best Actor for his turn as an autistic man in Barry Levinson's "Rain Man"; also first collaboration with the director
- 1985: Executive produced and starred in TV special, "Death of a Salesman" (which he had previously done in a revival onstage
- 1982: Delivered a brilliant performance as an out-of-work actor who resorts to drag to win a role in the comedy "Tootsie"; nominated for a Best Actor Oscar
- 1979: Earned Best Actor Oscar as a separated father coping with parenting in "Kramer vs Kramer"
- 1978: Began directing film, "Straight Time" (turned over to Ulu Grosbard)
- 1974: Appeared in the ABC children's TV special, "Marlo Thomas and Friends in Free to Be... You and Me"
- 1974: Received third Best Actor Oscar nomination as comedian Lenny Bruce in Bob Fosse's biopic "Lenny"
- 1974: Directed Broadway production, "All Over Town"
- 1969: Earned second Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his mesmerizing performance as Ratso Rizzo in "Midnight Cowboy"
- 1968: Broadway directorial debut, "Jimmy Shine"
- 1967: Feature acting debut, "Tiger Makes Out"
- 1967: Breakthrough screen role as Benjamin Braddock in Mike Nichols' "The Graduate"; recieved first Oscar nomination as Best Actor
- 1965: Worked as stage manager for "The Subject Was Roses" on Broadway; directed by Ulu Grosbard
- 1965: Appeared in "Harry, Noon and Night" at the American Place Theater, NYC
- 1965: Served as assistant to the director (Ulu Grosbard) on off-Broadway revival of "A View From the Bridge"
- 1964: Joined the Theatre Company of Boston and appeared in "Endgame", "The Quare Fellow", "In the Jungle of Cities" and other plays
- 1961: TV acting debut, "Sweet Prince of Delancey Street" episode of "Naked City"
- 1961: Broadway stage debut, "A Cook For Mr. General"
- 1960: Stage debut, "Yes Is For a Very Young Man" at Sarah Lawrence College
- Worked as an attendant in a psychiatric hospital, as a waiter, a dishwasher, a typist, a Times Square headline crier during a newspaper strike and as a toy salesman at Macy's
- Founded Punch Productions




