Johnny Depp appeared to be quite drunk and unable to speak or stand properly on CBS’s Hollywood Film Awards. Depp was giving an award for best documentary to Mike Myers for his film about Hollywood manager Shep Gordon. The film is called “Supermensch.” Depp was not that in the least. Keep refreshing…
Shock Doc About Sexual Molestation in Hollywood Tries the Bryan Singer Case, Implicates Others– Much Worse Than Previously Described
Amy Berg’s “An Open Secret” may not come out and say “X Men” director Bryan Singer molested under age boys, but it’s certainly the impression that’s left with the viewer. The explosive documentary screened tonight at NYC DOCS to an emotional crowd with divided reactions. While the movie depicts carefully many examples of abuse– sexual, power, and otherwise– visited upon children by craven adults in the film business, it’s also going to be a field day for some lawyers.
It seems that Berg was working with Michael Egan for two years, she says, before as she puts it “he found a lawyer who thought he had a case” against Bryan Singer and three other defendants. The lawyer was Jeff Herman, who put on quite a show for the press. But by the end of this summer, the cases were dropped, settlements were paid. Berg was undoubtedly left high and dry by Egan, upon whose story she depended for the film. She went ahead it with it anyway. So Egan gets to press his story and accusations in “Open Secret” just Singer, Garth Ancier, Gary Goddard, and David Neuman thought they were in the clear.
Berg doesn’t like or trust me very much because I criticized her behavior in the West Memphis Three situation. But obviously she’s a good filmmaker, and her heart is in the right place. She sets up a narrative here in a couple of story lines that pay off like crazy. One is about a SAG committee chief named Mike Harrah who manages child actors. He seems like a good guy but by the end of the movie he’s resigned his post after being revealed as a molester himself. It’s tragic.
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She also tells the heartbreaking story of Mark Ryan, who was Egan’s friend. In their original lawsuit of years ago, in a deposition, Mark Ryan details his molestation at the hands of nefarious pedophile Marc Collins- Rector. But then he drinks and drugs himself into a brain damaged state and lands in a nursing home. Egan says he holds himself responsible for introducing Ryan to these people, as well as Singer, et al.
Ryan’s parents are devastated, as are all the parents. But none of them explain how their sons could be lured into these messes. I am not saying it’s their fault. They were preyed upon. But Berg avoids examining what was going on at home that created so many gullible, naive and needy kids, and why they fell for the manipulation of evil people.
Also told in detail is the terrible of story of Marty Weiss, who managed kids and young teens, and was convicted also of molestation. His lack of contrition or conscience is mesmerizing. He’s finally brought down by a brave kid named Evan, who secretly tapes his confession.
I assume “Open Secret” has been vetted by lawyers, but I doubt it will ever be released in this form. In addition to Mike Harrah, a Hollywood actor named Brian Peck continues to work despite his conviction as a sex offender. He’s also a BFF of who else but Charlie Sheen.
Another actor who won’t be too happy seeing himself in this film is Ben Savage, star of “Boy Meets World” and the new “Girl Meets World.” He’s seen visiting Collins- Rector’s infamous mansion probably a decade ago for what’s implied as a sex party. It breaks my heart to report this, but this is what happens when a movie is shown to a big, general audience. This was not a private screening.
Also thrown under the bus: Arianna Huffington’s gay ex husband Michael Huffington, who was briefly in Congress– according to this film, sexual and legislative.
As for Berg, I did ask her what she thought Singer and Singer (pitbull lawyer Marty, no relation, who reps Bryan) would make of this movie. She said, “I’m not saying Bryan Singer is a child molester. But he certainly was surrounded by them and hung out with them.”
Aaron Sorkin on The Newsroom: “Journalists Are Very Deeply Insulted By the Show”
Aaron Sorkin stopped by HBO offices on Sixth Avenue last night for an interview after a private screening of episode two of the third and final season of “The Newsroom” for BAFTA members and their guests, many of whom were former newspeople.
The 53-year-old creator of “The West Wing” (along with “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “Sports Night”) also wrote “Moneyball” and won the Oscar for his screenplay for “The Social Network” about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg mogul. Next up is a Steve Jobs biopic that Christian Bale just exited with rumors Michael Fassbender will take over the lead role.
Sorkin started the interview by talking about how “The Newsroom” has been slammed by the media.
“The show has been very polarizing and I’ve got plenty of experience with negative reviews,” Sorkin noted. “But this is different because there are a number of critics, who are journalists, in their way” – the audience laughed – “who believe that what I’m doing is showing the professionals how it should have been done if only I’d been in charge. ‘Here is the right way to do news and I’m leveraging hindsight into heroism,’ which I assure you is not what I’m doing and in fact it’s not even what happens on the show. But they’re deeply, very insulted by the show.”
Sorkin went on to say the final season is the best, that he hadn’t been satisfied with the first two seasons. “This was the first season where I didn’t feel like had a pebble in my shoe writing the show.” He added, “The criticism I just mentioned, that I’m trying to show the pros how to do it, that’s silliness. There’s legitimate criticism of the show. I could write a negative review of the show if I wanted,” he went on to say.”
“After the second season I was not going to bring the show back for a third, for that reason and there were other commitments” Sorkin said. Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO, convinced him to come back. “I don’t think he wanted me to leave the show like that.”
How did he finally get into the rhythm of writing the show? He compared it to golf, which he doesn’t play, where a golfer “just keeps swinging” until he gets it right. “You just keep writing and you eventually find your groove but when you’re going through it, boy, there’s isn’t a more miserable feeling unless something wrong with your child. There isn’t a more miserable feeling in the world than that.”
As for accusations of his liberal bias, Sorkin said, “I have no political agenda, nor do I have much political sophistication at all,” he said. “ I’m not an activist. There are just great stories that suit my writing style, very romantic, very idealistic style.”
Sorkin went on to talk about newsroom dilemmas, like being first out with the news. “I’ve never understood the virtue of being two minutes earlier than someone else.I think you get bragging rights, that’s about it. I don’t think there’s a citizen who cares. And citizen journalism, those are the two scariest words I know,” he laughed. “
In the first episode of the final season the focus was on how the news channels got the Boston marathon bombing wrong. The reported the Boston police department had a suspect in custody who turned out to be innocent. “Listen, obviously getting it right is incredibly important.” He added, “ I was saddened to see the next day, the day after that, in the couple days that followed the season premiere on Sunday, headlines saying “Newsroom Blasts (CNNY reporter) John King.” (This was the headline in the Daily Beast following the season premiere.)
“That was exactly the opposite of what my intention was,” he explained.
As for how he would fix Nightly News? “It would go out of business in a couple of weeks,” he said if they went by his plan, which would include gathering journalists and asking them to decide what the top story is to tell viewers with a total disregard for ratings. “I don’t want anybody talking about ratings, thinking about ratings,” he said. “My solution would bankrupt an organization.”
Sorkin was asked if he ever wanted to be a journalist and he said no, that what drew him to lawyers, politicians and journalists was the good conversations. “I grew up in that,” he said. “Everyone in my family is smarter than I am. All of my friends that I grew up with are smarter than I am. And so just growing up I really liked the sound of smart people arguing with each other and I wanted to imitate that sound and I kind of created the narrative for it.”
As for upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, which has been much in the news, “I’ve never met Steve Jobs in my life,” Sorkin said. “He called me three times. The first time was just out of the blue to say something nice about something I did that he liked. The second time he asked me to come up, write a couple Pixar episodes,” which never materialized. The last time he called was to help him with his Stanford commencement address in 2005. “I said of course…you tell me what you want to say and I’ll tell you how, so I would really little more than give him confidence that it was a great speech.”
About the Jobs film he added, “How the person actually walked and talked becomes not at all important to me. Any time you see a movie that begins with the words the following is a real story just remember that you’re looking at a painting and not a photograph.”
Confirmed: Two Time Oscar Winner Christoph Waltz to Play James Bond’s Newest Nemesis
Confirmed: Christoph Waltz, a back to back Oscar winner, will play James Bond’s nemesis in the new 007 movie directed by Sam Mendes. And since Bond 24, as it is still known, is supposedly a two-parter with Bond 25, maybe Waltz will be in both movies. Stay tuned.
Baz Bamigboye broke this story in the Daily Mail a couple of days ago, but it still wasn’t totally confirmed. So I’ve picked up the pace in the US. And what a great idea! since Waltz came into our lives four years ago with “Inglorious Basterds,” he’s become an overnight sensation. Next week he’s getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Next month he opens in “Big Eyes,” directed by Tim Burton, with Amy Adams.
Last night “Big Eyes” opened to rapturous ovations at Film Independent’s LACMA screening in Hollywood. There’s already talk of a third Oscar nomination– and you know, when Waltz is nominated, he wins! He’s 2 for 2.
And what’s this character all about? “He is not a maniac, like Javier Bardem was in Skyfall,” says a source. “It seems he and James Bond may have a history. It’s very surprising and not just a crazy villain.”
Well, I should hope not! As a Nazi, Waltz waltzed into a French farmhouse in World War II, speaking German, and asked “May we speak English?” in Basterds. I mean, really. I bought an ink well because of him !
Watch the New Trailer for “50 Shades of Grey” with Beyonce Singing, and Everyone Tied Up
Of human bondage: Here’s the new trailer for “50 Shades of Grey.” Universal is handcuffed to a Feb 2015 opening. Beyonce sings “Haunted.” Since she also sings “Crazy for Love” in the first trailer, it’s safe to assume she’s all over the soundtrack. Yowza!
Beatles Family Semi-Reunion as Stella McCartney Tribute Brings Paul, Yoko, and George Harrison’s Son Dhani Performs
It was a wild New York night at Alice Tully Hall for Lincoln Center’s second annual Corporate Fund gala: designer Stella McCartney was honored with a Q&A by Jerry Seinfeld that she never could have expected, followed by a swanky dinner with vegetarian menu and lots and lots of stars. It was also a weirdly warm Beatles semi-reunion that had Yoko Ono getting hugs and kisses from Paul and Nancy McCartney, Olivia Harrison and her son Dhani, as well as Stella.
And then a surprise of Dhani Harrison, son of George and Olivia, performing “Love of My Life,” an Everly Brothers song (Stella’s favorite) as well as rocking “Live and Let Die” with his band, for an audience that included a five months pregnant Liv Tyler, plus Woody Harrelson, Lorne Michaels, Seth Meyers, a very pregnant Alicia Keys, actor Luke Evans, famed artist Jeff Koons, as well as Paul’s in-laws John and Jodie Eastman, rock jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, Helena Christensen, and a hilarious Chelsea Handler, who emceed the evening until she had to leave to take a plane to Australia.
Handler exited the show as irreverently as she could by making a joke about Paul McCartney’s infamously unpopular second wife: “I would say a break a leg but I don’t want to insult Heather Mills.”
Legendary (and rocking, believe me) Harpers Bazaar editor in chief Glenda Bailey and Hearst president Steve Swartz (who’s president of the Fund) put together this amazing group of people.
Meantime, the sublimely funny Jerry Seinfeld– assigned to interview Stella on stage for about a half hour– brought the silly. Seinfeld asked Stella a series of non sequitur questions including “What do you wear when you feel bad?” and “Why do most people look disgusting?” McCartney was up to the challenge though and gave him as good as he got. When Jerry asked her “Why do people come to my shows at Caesar’s Palace wearing tank tops, flip flops and shorts?” Stella volleyed back: “Because they’re your shows!”
Finally Jerry observed that Stella does not use leather or fur in her clothing. He said. “I eat only leather and fur.”
Video tributes were shown from Quincy Jones, Bono, Gwen Stefani, Chrissie Hynde, Kate Winslet–and of all people a bright and brisk sounding 90 year old Doris Day who praised Stella for her work in animal rights. That was quite a coup!
Dhani Harrison summed up the tone for the whole night. On stage he said he there “to honor my big sister.” Afterwards he told, “Stella has looked out for me my whole life.” You know, just the idea that Paul McCartney’s daughter has done that for George Harrison’s son– the two Beatles met when they were 15, in 1957–makes you believe in the magic of the Beatles. Aw shucks!
The evening, which looks like it will become an annual tradition, was put together by Harper’s Bazaar rocking editor in chief Glenda Bailey and Hearst mags’ Steve Swartz. I think even they were surprised how well it worked out!
Jon Bon Jovi on Richie Sambora’s Exit from the Band: “It’s Not a Life Sentence”
Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea certainly must have a painting of themselves aging in attic. Just past 50, this couple looks like a million bucks. They’re also among the nicest people anywhere. I ran into them last night at the after party for Jon Stewart’s important debut film, “Rosewater,” at the Stone Rose restaurant in the Time Warner Center. Was it a hot party? I also ran into the great actress Debra Winger, who never goes to anything. On an off topic, we joked– as we often do– about her sparse resume. She’s very picky about her roles. “But I’m reading things now!” she insisted.
Meanwhile, Jon Bon Jovi: it’s ridiculous that his group isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But there’s obviously some antipathy between him and Jann Wenner, the Hall’s puppeteer, after being passed over some time. Bon Jovi represents exactly what Rock and Roll was about before corporate titans took it over: ambitious local kids turn a garage band into international powerhouse with a fervent following. But the deficiencies of the Rock Hall are too numerous to repeat here.
Bon Jovi told me he’s getting over a serious depression after losing his bid (with partners) to buy the Buffalo Bills football team. “I devoted two years to that project,” he said with a shrug of shoulders. “But I’m coming out of it now.” I did ask Jon what the story was with lead guitarist Richie Sambora. He left Bon Jovi’s Because We Can tour in April 2013 and never looked back. Again, Jon seems a little perplexed: “He quit. He’s gone. No hard feelings. Being in a band isn’t a life sentence.” Fans will always hope that somehow all of this will work itself out. And it might: Bon Jovi, as a band, is 10 years younger than most of the legacy groups playing right now. And, to quote a song, who says you can’t go home?
As for Stewart, he’s taken some knocks as a first time director. But “Rosewater” is an important film with a strong core performance by Gael Garcia Bernal as Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari. He was taken hostage in Iran and held– and brutalized– for 118 days. The reason he was taken was because of a comedy sketch on Stewart’s “The Daily Show” in which it was joked that Bahari was a spy. Upon his release Bahari wrote a book, and now Stewart– maybe out of a sense of guilt, and certainly one of responsibility–has made the movie. This Friday, “Rosewater” is a must see release.
And hey–I asked Jon Stewart about Bon Jovi coming to his premiere: “It’s the New Jersey connection,” he joked. “We have to stick together!”
Andy Warhol: 11 Paintings Sell for $200 Mil at Christie’s Record $852 Mil Auction
What a night in the art world! No recession on West 49th St. as Christie’s auction house had a record night with $852 million in sales. Eleven of the painting s were by Andy Warhol. They went for a total of $200 million including one, Triple Elvis [Ferus Type], 1963, that went for $81,925,000. Another, Four Marlons, 1966, came in at $69,605,000.
I was actually there in the auction room and I can tell you the place crackled with electricity. The bidding for all paintings was pretty ferocious. In the crowd I spotted some regulars– like art dealer Larry Gagosian– and some unusual faces like actor Ethan Suplee. He was busing making notes and placing phone calls on his cell phone. But Suplee said that even though he collects art, “I’m not planning on buying anything tonight.”
Clearly though plenty of people were ready to part with fortunes. Here are the record sales for the night:
11 WORLD AUCTION RECORDS FOR ARTISTS
$69,605,000
Cy Twombly (1928-2011), Untitled, oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas, Executed in 1970
$30,405,000
Ed Ruscha (b. 1937), Smash, oil on canvas, Painted in 1963
$22,565,000
Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997), Untitled, oil on canvas Painted in 1988
$18,085,000
Peter Doig (b. 1959), Pine House (Rooms for Rent), oil on canvas, Painted in 1994
$8,901,000
Arshile Gorky (1904-1948), Child’s Companions, oil and graphite on canvas, painted in 1945
$7,445,000
Georg Baselitz (b. 1938), Der Brückechor (The Brücke Chorus), oil on canvas, Painted in 1983
$7,109,000
Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929), White No. 28, oil on canvas, Painted in 1960
$6,773,000
Cindy Sherman (B. 1954), Untitled Film Stills, 21 gelatin silver prints, 1977/1978/1979/1980
$5,765,000
Mark Tansey (b. 1949), Land Fall, oil on canvas, Painted in 2007
$3,413,000
Sturtevant (1926-2014), Lichtenstein, Frighten Girl, oil and graphite on canvas, painted in 1966
$785,000
Seth Price (b. 1973), Vintage Bomber, vacuum formed high-impact polystyrene, Executed in 2006
Oscars: Selma, American Sniper Add David Oyelowo, Bradley Cooper to Crowded Best Actor List
Th already crowded best actor race just got more crowded with the L.A. AFI premieres of “Selma” and “American Sniper.” David Oyelowo and Bradley Cooper, respectively, have leaped into the fray, joining Cumberbatch, Redmayne, Keaton, Murray, Oscar Isaac and possibly Al Pacino as front runners.
This will be tricky as there are only five spots and literally any of those guys should be or could be the winner. Pacino has Oscars, so he’s all set as for winning. It’s Bill Murray and Michael Keaton who are the sentimental favorites because they’ve never won (Murray at least has been nominated). Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne are the young Brits, sort of Olivier and O’Toole. They’re each going to accumulate a half dozen nominations in their careers.
Of the new names, Cooper at least has two prior nominations and a popularity factor. Also Cooper is opening in “The Elephant Man” on Broadway. That gives him even more heft. (Whoever planned that was a genius.) Oyelowo, also British, is one of the strongest up and comers ever. Also, he’s playing Dr. Martin Luther King. So Oyelowo comes in very very strong.
What to do? Who knows? I wish the actress category had so many quandaries!
Stevie Wonder, Meryl Streep, Murdered “Mississippi Burning” Civil Rights Workers Among those to Get Presidential Medal of Freedom
Lots of deserving well known celebrities are getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom including Meryl Streep, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Sondheim and Tom Brokaw. But I’m most impressed by the posthumous awards, 50 years later, to the murdered civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Their deaths are three of darkest stains in American history. The awards are even more meaningful as we observe the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march on Selma.
Here is the list, released yesterday by the White House, from their website
Alvin Ailey (posthumous)
Ailey was a choreographer, dancer, and the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is renowned for its inspiring performances in 71 countries on 6 continents since 1958. Ailey’s work was groundbreaking in its exploration of the African American experience and the enrichment of the modern dance tradition, including his beloved American masterpiece Revelations. The Ailey organization, based in New York City, carries on his pioneering legacy with performances, training, educational, and community programs for people of all backgrounds.
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende is a highly acclaimed author of 21 books that have sold 65 million copies in 35 languages. She has been recognized with numerous awards internationally. She received the prestigious National Literary Award in Chile, her country of origin, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw is one of America’s most trusted and respected journalists. Mr. Brokaw served as anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004, and is currently a Special Correspondent for NBC News. For decades, Mr. Brokaw has reached millions of Americans in living rooms across the country to provide depth and analysis to historic moments as they unfold, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the terrorist attacks of 9-11. His reporting has been recognized by the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, eleven Emmys, and two Peabody awards. Mr. Brokaw previously served as anchor of NBC’s Today, and following the death of his close friend Tim Russert, Mr. Brokaw took over Meet the Press during the 2008 campaign season. He has written five books including The Greatest Generation, a title that gave name to those who served in World War II at home and abroad.
James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner (posthumous)
James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were civil rights activists and participants in “Freedom Summer,” an historic voter registration drive in 1964. As African Americans were systematically being blocked from voter rolls, Mr. Chaney, Mr. Goodman, and Mr. Schwerner joined hundreds of others working to register black voters in Mississippi. They were murdered at the outset of Freedom Summer. Their deaths shocked the nation and their efforts helped to inspire many of the landmark civil rights advancements that followed.
Mildred Dresselhaus
Mildred Dresselhaus is one of the most prominent physicists, materials scientists, and electrical engineers of her generation. A professor of physics and electrical engineering at MIT, she is best known for deepening our understanding of condensed matter systems and the atomic properties of carbon, which has contributed to major advances in electronics and materials research.
John Dingell
John Dingell is a lifelong public servant, the longest serving Member of Congress in American history, and one of the most influential legislators in history. Having represented Michigan in the House of Representatives since 1955, Mr. Dingell has fought for landmark pieces of legislation over the past six decades, from civil rights legislation in the 1960s, to legislation protecting our environment in the 1970s, to his persistent, determined fight for health care throughout his career, from Medicare to the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Dingell also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Ethel Kennedy
Ethel Kennedy has dedicated her life to advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction by creating countless ripples of hope to effect change around the world. Over 45 years ago, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, which is dedicated to realizing her husband’s dream of a more just and peaceful world. Ethel Kennedy was most recently honored for her longtime advocacy of environmental causes in neglected areas of Washington, D.C. with the dedication of the “Ethel Kennedy Bridge” over the Anacostia River.
Suzan Harjo
Suzan Harjo is a writer, curator, and activist who has advocated for improving the lives of Native peoples throughout her career. As a member of the Carter Administration and as current president of the Morning Star Institute, she has been a key figure in many important Indian legislative battles, including the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. Dr. Harjo is Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee, and a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.
Abner Mikva
Abner Mikva is a dedicated public servant who has served with distinction in all three branches of government. He was a five-term Congressman from Illinois, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton. He has also served as a law professor at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois.
Patsy Takemoto Mink (posthumous)
Patsy Takemoto Mink was a Congresswoman from Hawai’i, serving a total of 12 terms. She was born and raised on Maui, became the first Japanese American female attorney in Hawai’i, and served in the Hawai’i territorial and state legislatures beginning in 1956. In 1964, she became the first woman of color elected to Congress. She is best known for co-authoring and championing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Edward Roybal (posthumous)
Edward R. Roybal was the first Mexican-American to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from California in nearly a century. In 1976, he founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, creating a national forum for Latino issues and opening doors for a new generation of Latino leaders.
Charles Sifford
Charles Sifford was a professional golfer who helped to desegregate the Professional Golfers’ Association, despite harassment and death threats. He started his life on the links as a caddy, and though he was formally excluded from the PGA for much of his career because of the color of his skin, he won six National Negro Opens. In 1960, he won his challenge over the PGA’s “Caucasian only” membership policy. He went on to win official PGA events and the PGA Seniors’ Championship. He was inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of St. Andrews in 2006.
Robert Solow
Robert Solow is one of the most widely respected economists of the past sixty years. His research in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s transformed the field, laying the groundwork for much of modern economics. He continues to influence policy makers, demonstrating how smart investments, especially in new technology, can build broad-based prosperity, and he continues to actively participate in contemporary debates about inequality and economic growth. He is a Nobel laureate, winning the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1987.
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim is one of the country’s most influential theater composers and lyricists. His work has helped define American theater with shows such as Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. Mr. Sondheim has won eight Grammy Awards, eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of the most widely known and acclaimed actors in history. Ms. Streep has captured our imaginations with her unparalleled ability to portray a wide range of roles and attract an audience that has only grown over time, portraying characters who embody the full range of the human experience. She holds the record for most Academy Award nominations of any actor in history.
Marlo Thomas
Marlo Thomas is an award-winning actress, producer, best-selling author and social activist. Whether championing equality for girls and women, giving voice to the less fortunate, breaking barriers by portraying one of television’s first single working women on That Girl, or teaching children to be “Free to Be You and Me,” Thomas inspires us all to dream bigger and reach higher. Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on pediatric cancer and children’s catastrophic diseases. The hospital was founded by her father, Danny Thomas, in 1962.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is one of the world’s most gifted singer-songwriters. Mr. Wonder has created a sound entirely his own, mixing rhythm and blues with genres ranging from rock and roll to reggae, and demonstrating his mastery of a range of instruments, styles, and themes. He is also a Kennedy Center Honoree, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and winner of 25 Grammys and an Academy Award.