Harris began his career on the stage. Harris' first film role came in 1978 with a minor part in the suspense film Coma, starring Michael Douglas. His first major role in a film came two years later with Borderline (1980), in which he starred alongside Charles Bronson. In 1981, Harris played the lead, William "Billy" Davis, a king of a motorcycle-riding renaissance-fair troupe (a role modeled after King Arthur), in Knightriders. The following year, he co-starred as Hank Blaine in the black comedy horror anthology film Creepshow, directed by George A. Romero. In 1983, Harris became well-known after portraying astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff.[1] In 1984, he co-starred in the Robert Benton-directed drama film Places in the Heart; during production of this film, Harris met and married his wife Amy Madigan.
In 1986, he received a Tony Award nomination in the Best Actor in a Play category for his role in George Furth's Precious Sons. He also won the Theatre World Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play for his performance.[9] Harris then portrayed William Walker, a 19th-century American who appointed himself President of Nicaragua, in Walker (1987). That same year, he played the main role of Harry Nash in the HBO television thriller film The Last Innocent Man. In 1989, his role as David "Dave" Flannigan in Jacknife earned him his first Golden Globe Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[10] Also in 1989, he portrayed Virgil "Bud" Brigman in the sci-fi film The Abyss, directed by James Cameron.
In 1992, Harris co-starred as Dave Moss in the drama film Glengarry Glen Ross, based on the play of the same name by David Mamet. He won the Valladolid International Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. He next appeared in the films The Firm (1993) and Needful Things (1993), before portraying the lead role of Kyle Bodine in the neo-noir film China Moon (1994). In 1995, Harris portrayed Watergate figure E. Howard Hunt in the Oliver Stone biopic Nixon, and received his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as NASA flight director Gene Kranz in Apollo 13.[1] The following year, Harris starred in and executive produced the television adaptation of Riders of the Purple Sage. Also in 1996, Harris returned to the Broadway stage, appearing as Major Steve Arnold in the Ronald Harwood play Taking Sides.[11] In 1998, his co-starring role in The Truman Show earned him a second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor,[12] and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture win.[13]
Harris made his directorial debut in 2000 with the drama biopic Pollock, in which he also starred as artist Jackson Pollock. He was nominated for his first Academy Award for Best Actor (and third Oscar overall) for his performance.[14] To prepare for the role, he built a small studio in which to copy the painter's techniques. Two years later, Harris was nominated for his fourth Academy Award (third in the Best Supporting Actor category) for his role as Richard Brown in the British-American drama film The Hours.[15] In between the two Oscar nominated roles, he appeared in the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind (2001) and portrayed German sniper Major Erwin König in the war thriller Enemy at the Gates (2001).