The Academy Awards first recognized his work in nominating him for playing a racist murderer on death row in the drama film "Dead Man Walking" (1995). He was nominated again for his comedic performance as an egotistical jazz guitarist in the film "Sweet and Lowdown" (1999). He received his third nomination after portraying a mentally handicapped father in "I am Sam" (2001). Penn finally won for his role in the Boston crime-drama "Mystic River" (2003). In 2004, Penn played Samuel Bicke, a character based on Samuel Byck, who in 1974 attempted and failed to assassinate President Richard Nixon, in "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" (2004). The same year, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Next, Penn portrayed governor Willie Stark (based on Huey Long) in an adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's classic 1946 American novel "All the King's Men" (2006). The film was a critical and commercial failure, named by a 2010 "Forbes" article as the biggest flop in the last five years.