Nick Nolte was praised as going from a crook to an accidental movie star who netted Oscar nominations when he was honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 76-year-old has had a film career spanning five decades during which he received Academy Award nods for The Prince Of Tides, Affliction and Warrior.

But, as he was presented with a star on Hollywood Boulevard on Monday, he was reminded of his humble beginnings in Omaha where he was arrested aged 20 for selling fake conscription cards.

Nick Nolte
Nolte with Warrior director Gavin O’Connor (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Warrior director Gavin O’Connor said: “Nick is a man of many colours, he was a felon, manufactured draft cards in the 1960s.

“Then he became an actor. He locked himself in a room and devoured all the great plays, treaded the boards across the country performing in regional theatre. Nick was a gypsy and then he accidentally became a movie star.”

O’Connor praised Nolte as a “master of his craft” with a voice “that sounds like he’s swallowed a bag of nails”, adding that he is “crazy to the bone”.

Taking to the stage after it was declared the day would be named after him in Hollywood, the actor said: “Nick Nolte Day … I can barely get through one myself.”

Nick Nolte
Nolte with his star (Chris Pizzello/AP)

With his characteristic gruffness, he said through a thick beard that he was “deeply honoured” and praised the Walk of Fame for paving Hollywood Boulevard with a history of the actors who have passed through the street.

He was joined at the ceremony, where he was presented with the 2,623rd star, by his family.