KEY POINTS

  • Billy Crystal to be honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival 
  • Rachel Brosnahan, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and more are also receiving awards during the event
  • The SCAD Savannah Film Festival is scheduled to take place virtually starting Oct. 24

Hollywood actor Billy Crystal is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Savannah College of Art and Design Film Festival.

The 72-year-old star will be receiving the top honor at this year’s virtual event that is scheduled to take place starting Oct. 24, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The festival is one of the many cultural events that had to make the difficult decision of going virtual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The “When Harry Met Sally” star will be honored with the award on Oct. 26 following a screening of his film “Standing Up, Falling Down.” Released in 2019, the movie tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a struggling stand-up comedian (played by Ben Schwartz) and an alcoholic dermatologist (portrayed by Crystal).

Many other celebrities are also going to receive awards at the upcoming event. Notable personalities such as Rachel Brosnahan (Spotlight award, actress), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Distinguished Performance award), Ethan Hawke (Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment award), Millie Bobby Brown (Maverick award), Samuel L. Jackson (Legends of Cinema award), Jennifer Hudson (Virtuoso award), Tessa Thompson (Vanguard award), Steven Yeun (Discovery Award), and Glen Keane (Lifetime Achievement in Animation award) will be honored during the event.

Crystal started his professional acting career in 1975 with a TV series called “Keep On Truckin.” However, his moment of glory came in 1977 when he appeared on the blockbuster hit TV show “Soap.” The series took his popularity to a whole new level and made him a household name.

The actor hosted the Academy Awards on nine occasions and has been nominated for three Golden Globes. Crystal has received 20 nods at the Emmy Awards since 1985 and emerged victorious on five separate occasions.

Forget Paris,” “Mr. Saturday Night,” “Deconstructing Harry,” “City Slickers,” “Monsters Inc.” are some of the iconic projects that Crystal made in his illustrious career.

Other films to be screened at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival include the likes of “I’m Your Woman,” “Uncle Frank,” “Minari,” “The Good Lord Bird,” “Nine Love,” “Sylvie’s Love,” “Wander Darkly,” “Sound of Metal,” and “One Night In Miami.”

48 Billy Crystal - Getty Images
Director Rob Reiner wanted Miracle Max to be sound like Mel Brooks, but Crystal collaborated with makeup artist Peter Montagna, whom he had worked with on Saturday Night Live, to model his face after legendary baseball manager Casey Stengel. Getty Images