Honorary Oscars awarded to Samuel L. Jackson, Liv Ullmann and Elaine May

Two days before the 94th Academy Awards, the US actor Samuel L. Jackson and other filmmakers have been awarded an honorary Oscar for their life’s work.

–

Two days before the 94th Academy Awards, the US actor Samuel L. Jackson and other filmmakers have been awarded an honorary Oscar for their life’s work. The 73-year-old African American received the award on Friday evening (local time) in Hollywood, as did Norwegian film diva Liv Ullmann and US filmmaker Elaine May.

Although Jackson has repeatedly starred in successful films by Quentin Tarantino, but also in Marvel and “Star Wars” blockbusters, he has only been nominated once for an Oscar: in 1995 as best supporting actor for his role in Tarantino’s cult film “Pulp Fiction “.

“152 movie titles, $27 billion in revenue, more than any other actor in history,” said US actor Denzel Washington in his eulogy for Jackson, who sat next to Tarantino at the gala. On stage, Jackson reviewed his career and named films like Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” or “Die Hard: Now More Than Ever”.

Ullmann was also honored for her decades-long career. The 83-year-old had often worked with the Swedish director Ingmar Bergman and shot classics like “Persona” and “Scenes from a Marriage” with him. In the 1970s, she was twice nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress: for her roles in Emigrants and Bergman’s psychodrama Face to Face.

“To those who claim that she would never have been called one of the greatest actresses without Ingmar Bergman, I would say that without Liv Ullmann, Bergman would probably never have been called one of our greatest filmmakers,” said US actor John Lithgow in his eulogy.

Another honorary Oscar went to Elaine May, a pioneer for women in comedy and directing. US actor Bill Murray gave the eulogy for the 89-year-old. May has two Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for Heaven Shall Wait and With All Might.

In addition, the actor Danny Glover, known from the “Lethal Weapon” films, was honored for his social commitment with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award of the Oscar Academy. The 75-year-old has campaigned for causes such as the US civil rights movement throughout his career.

AFP

–