The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced plans to award this year’s Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement to screen legend Tom Hanks. The award, which is handed out to individuals who have provided “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment,” is a testament to Hank’s career in the industry, which has spanned over 30 years and includes credits on some of the most significant movies of the last few decades.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, HFPA president Lorenzo Soria was unequivocal in his praise for the actor. In a glowing assessment, Soria said:
“For more than three decades, he’s captivated audiences with rich and playful characters that we’ve grown to love and admire. As compelling as he is on the silver screen, he’s equally so behind the camera as a writer, producer and director. We’re honoured to include Mr Hanks with such luminaries as Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese and Barbra Streisand to name a few.”
Watch as Tom Hanks gives SNL monologue as America's Dad:Hanks burst onto the scene in 1984 with his star turn in Ron Howard’s romantic comedy “Splash”, before roles in 1988’s “Big” and 1993’s “Sleepless in Seattle” established him as a household name. In 1994 and 1995 he became only the second male performer ever to win back to back Academy Awards for Actor in a Leading Role, which he won for “Forrest Gump” and “Philadelphia” respectively.
In addition to his work on screen, Hanks is known as a vocal activist and advocate of several prominent causes, including the campaign for equal marriage and proactive environmentalism. Recently, his Twitter feed has been full of messages urging America’s youth to register to vote in the next election.
This prominent advocacy has led some to wonder whether he will use the ceremony as an opportunity to promote a political message, just as Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep have done before him. Followers and fans will have to wait for the ceremony on January 5th to find out.
