Meryl Streep to Receive 32nd AFI Life Achievement Award

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, October 17th 2003 at 6:24 PM

Meryl Streep has been selected by the American Film Institute's (AFI) Board of Trustees to receive the 32nd AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film, it was announced today by Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees.

The award will be presented to Streep at a gala tribute on June 10, 2004, which will be held in the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland.

Meryl Streep commented, "I am honored to be selected by the AFI for the work I love doing — the event is in June and that might give me enough time to compose a list of all the people I'm beholden to in my life and to whom I owe everything."

Mr. Stringer commented, "Meryl Streep is one of the great artists in the history of American film. Her talent, range and determination to master her craft bring out performances that sometimes border on the ethereal. In that sense, she is truly peerless. It is AFI's great honor to present its Life Achievement Award to this truly gifted actor."

"Meryl Streep is the ultimate film artist — for her generation and for all generations," said Jon Avnet, Chair, AFI Board of Directors and Co-Chair, AFI Life Achievement Nominating Committee [with Bob Daly].

USA Network will broadcast the 32nd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute in June 2004. Bob Gazzale, who served as Executive Producer of last year's AFI Tribute to Robert De Niro, will continue these duties again this year.