Robin Williams, who rose to Hollywood stardom thanks to his wild comedy but earned an Oscar as a dramatic actor, will receive a major honorary award from the group that hands out the widely watched Golden Globes, it was announced Thursday.
Williams will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association when the group stages its annual celebrity awards dinner in January.
The DeMille honor is given each year by the organization to an actor who has made an “outstanding contribution to the entertainment field.” The HFPA consists of roughly 90 members cover entertainment in Hollywood for foreign publications,
Williams became a star in the 1970s for his wild, stand-up comedy and for portraying a wacky alien on the TV sitcom “Mork & Mindy.” Over subsequent decades, performances in movies like ”Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Good Will Hunting” earned him honors as an accomplished dramatic actor. He received a best supporting actor Oscar for “Good Will Hunting” in 1997.
Williams has received five Golden Globe Awards in the past, three as best actor for movies “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Fisher King,” and “Good Morning, Vietnam.” He won a TV award for “Mork & Mindy” and a special honor for his voice work in animated film “Aladdin.”
The Golden Globe Awards are presented each year by the HFPA and have become a well-attended celebrity gathering for film and TV stars. This year’s ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC on Jan. 16.