- Title: USA: HARRISON FORD RECEIVES AMERICAN FILM INSTITUE LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
- Date: 17th February 2000
- Summary: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA,, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 17, 2000) (AFI POOL - ACCESS ALL) FORD ENTERS AWARD CEREMONY
- Embargoed: 3rd March 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVACHYBR2S57YWNCJIY00YK4O2VK
- Story Text: At a ceremony in Beverly Hills on Thursday (February 17), Harrison Ford became the latest recipient of The American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award.
Ford became the 28th recipient of the prestigious award widely considered the highest honor given for a career in film joining such film artists as Dustin Hoffman, Clint Eastwood, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck and Jack Nicholson.
Among those attending the evening tribute were George Lucas, Annette Bening, Julia Ormond and Daryl Hannah.
Lucas was an early cinematic benefactor of Ford's, casting him in small roles in "American Graffiti" and "The Conversation." It was Lucas' "Star Wars" which is credited with making Ford a star.
Although Ford's filmography dates back to 1966"s "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round," his roles in 1977's "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981 which quantified his box-office appeal.
His first acting jobs in Hollywood were small roles on such landmark TV series as "Gunsmoke and "The Virginian."
In 1973, he gained recognition with his role in George Lucas' "American Graffiti." The next year, he played a memorably snippy corporate assistant in "The Conversation."But, it was his role as "Han Solo," the intergalactic swashbuckler in "Star Wars," that won fans and hearts in every galaxy.
With 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Ford created another American film icon: the rascally, tenacious archaeologist Indiana Jones and defined the action hero in films of the decade.
Films then ranged from the third "Star Wars" installment, "Return of the Jedi," and a second Indiana Jones film, to Ridley Scott's cult classic, "Blade Runner," his Academy Award-nominated performance in "Witness"(1985), to Roman Polanski's "Frantic," Alan J.Pakula's adaptation of Scott Turow's "Presumed Innocent" and Mike Nichol's "Regarding Henry." In the early 1990s, Ford took the role of "Jack Ryan"
in "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger"(1992 and 1994, respectively), again redefining the role of the contemporary leading man.Memorable performances in "The Fugitive" (1993) and "Air Force One" (1997) followed.
Created by the board of trustees in 1973, the AFI Life Achievement Award is regarded as one of the higher honorsto recognize a distinguished career in film.
The AFI Board chooses a single honoree each year "whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time." In 1993, the AFI Board extended the criteria to encompass individuals with active careers and work of significance yet to be accomplished. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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