New York, NY - Hank Azaria, actor and man of many voices on The Simpsons, will host the 2006 DGA Honors at the Directors Guild of America Theater in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 12. DGA Honors recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals and institutions to the film and television industry. The event will be followed by a lavish gala at the renowned Nobu 57 Restaurant.
Azaria, a four-time Emmy winner, is one of the most sought-after actors today. He starred in the critically acclaimed Showtime series Huff and received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway performance in the Mike Nichols-directed/Monty Python-inspired musical, "Spamalot." Azaria has voiced several key characters in the animated hit comedy The Simpsons, for which he won three Emmy Awards and been a series regular for its entire 19-year run. He also received an Emmy for Tuesdays With Morrie, opposite Jack Lemmon. In addition to numerous feature film credits (The Birdcage, also directed by Nichols, Along Came Polly, Shattered Glass, Quiz Show and Cradle Will Rock), Azaria has added director and producer credits by co-writing, producing, directing and starring in the award-winning short film Nobody's Perfect.
Following is a list of confirmed presenters in alphabetical order:
Lorraine Bracco, who portrays Dr. Jennifer Melfi on The Sopranos, will present the award to Mayor Bloomberg for his extraordinary success in bringing film and television production back to New York City.
James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Peter Bogdanovich, stars of the hit HBO series The Sopranos, will present the DGA Honor to producer/director David Chase for his visionary creation of a dysfunctional mob family from New Jersey. Most of the cast of The Sopranos is also scheduled to attend.
Director, producer and writer Jonathan Demme (The Manchurian Candidate, The Silence of the Lambs) will present the honor to director Arthur Penn for his cinematic genius in films like Bonnie and Clyde, The Miracle Worker and Alice's Restaurant, all of which received Academy Award nominations for Best Director.
Noted stage and screen actor Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash, Ocean's Twelve) will present the DGA Honor to Danny Glover for his selfless devotion to improving health care and education for children in the U.S. and Africa.
Following is the list of confirmed celebrity guests as of October 6, 2006 (in alphabetical order):
- Michael Apted
- Richard Belzer
- Steve Buscemi
- Gil Cates
- Dominic Chianese
- Erika Christensen
- Melonie Diaz
- Jamie-Lynn DiScala
- Taylor Hackford
- Jay Hernandez
- Jennifer Hudson
- Robert Iler
- Helen Mirren
- Anika Noni Rose
- Julie Taymor
- Betty Thomas
- Aida Turturro
- Jack Valenti
- Steve Van Zandt
- Sam Waterson
- B.D. Wong
"DGA Honors was created to celebrate distinguished contributions to American culture through the world of film and television," said DGA President Michael Apted."On October 12, DGA Honors will be the New York nexus of entertainment, business, labor and politics - an event as unique as the individuals and institutions it recognizes."
Arrivals for the DGA Honors on October 12, 2006, will begin at 6 p.m. at the renovated DGA Theater in New York, followed by the awards presentation at 7 p.m. Honorees and guests will then gather at 8 p.m. at the renowned Nobu 57 Restaurant, 40 W. 57th Street, for the post-Honors gala.
