He earned two Academy Awards nominations: one for Best Actor for Salvador (1986) and for Best Supporting Actor for Ghosts of Mississippi (1996). He rose to prominence portraying Gregory Powell in The Onion Field (1979). Woods early film roles include in The Visitors (1972), The Way We Were (1973) and Night Moves (1975). He made his television breakthrough alongside Meryl Streep, playing her husband in the acclaimed NBC miniseries Holocaust (1978). He returned to Broadway in Borstal Boy (1970), The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (1971), Moonchildren (1972), and Finishing Touches (1973). He made his Broadway debut in The Penny Wars (1969). He started his career in minor roles on and off- Broadway. He received various accolades including three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards as well as nominations for two Academy Awards.

He is known for fast-talking intense roles on stage and screen. James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor.