Ex-brother-in-law of Ellen Rossen and Robert Rossen.
Fans consider his 1968 live stage performance of "I Never Sang for My Father" one of his best, seldom mentioned acts. Before the motion picture of the same name was released two years later, starring Gene Hackman.
Has starred in two projects based on John Grisham books with The Firm (1993) and The Street Lawyer (2003) (TV).
He is a 1948 graduate of Denison University (Granville, Ohio)
He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
He was just 29 when he began touring his one-man show of the elderly Mark Twain, even performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower at one point. In June 2005, he returned his "Mark Twain Tonight" to Broadway for a sold out, month-long run, receiving rave reviews from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
His publicist is Steve Rohr.
In 2008, at age 82, he became the oldest male actor to be nominated for an Academy Award. His nomination displaced Ralph Richardson, who previously held that distinction.
In his guest appearance on "The West Wing" (1999), his character first describes the fate of the USS Pueblo, an intelligence gathering surface vessel, caught spying by North Korea in 1968, while referring to the fictional USS Portland. In 1973's Pueblo (1973) (TV), Holbrook portrayed the lead character.
One daughter, Eve, with Carol Eve Rossen.
Portrayed Abraham Lincoln in "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1948), "Lincoln" (1974), "North and South" (1985) and "North and South, Book II" (1986).
Served in the Army during WWII, and acted in some plays where he was stationed.
Stepfather of Mary Dixie Carter and Ginna Carter.
Two children, Victoria Holbrook and David Holbrook, with Ruby Holbrook.
Won the 1966 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Drama for "Mark Twain Tonight".