Lily Tomlin to receive SAG Life Achievement Award
Lily Tomlin will be the first openly gay person to receive the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Actress Lily Tomlin will make history as the first openly gay person to receive the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
The prestigious recognition began in 1962 and has previously been awarded to legends such as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Betty White, James Earl Jones and many others.
Tomlin shot to fame as a comic in 1969 before later finding success with cult hit films like Nashville and 9 to 5.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris described Tomlin as “an extraordinary actress as equally adept at narrative drama as in comedy roles.
“She has an ability to create diverse and distinct characters that are at once familiar, eccentric and oh so honest – in a way that illuminates life’s hidden corners.
“From Edith Ann to Frankie, her characters are wholly unique, and by exposing every nuance of human behaviour they widen our scope of understanding.”
Tomlin already has an impressive list of honours, including multiple Emmys, numerous American Comedy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Grammy.
Most recently she has received acclaim for her role in the Netflix series ‘Grace and Frankie’ alongside Jane Fonda.
The actress never publicly came out as gay but married Jane Wagner in 2013 after 45 years of being together personally and professionally.
She has also previously said that being public about her sexuality earlier in her career could have hurt her success.
Tomlin will be presented with the award at the 23rd annual SAG Awards on January 29, 2017.
