In 1959, he was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and Laurel Awards for "best supporting actor" for his role in "The Young Philadelphians" (1959), with Paul Newman. His second major role was in the movie directed by John Sturges, "The Magnificent Seven" (1960). The movie also starred Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen. Vaughn played an expert gunman. He was one of the 7 Magnificent that helped the peasants.