I'm thinking it was his appearance as a young cop on an episode of "Golden Girls" that clinched it for him.
But, seriously...
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
The Cecil B. DeMille Award is an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment".
Previous Winners:
Woody Allen 2014 Jodie Foster 2013 Morgan Freeman 2012 Robert De Niro 2011 Martin Scorsese 2010