2006 HONOREE - CELESTE HOLM

Click to view more photos of Celeste at the 2006 Festival

An only child, Celeste Holm discovered her acting roots as teenager. Celeste studied acting at the University of Chicago and made her professional stage debut in 1936 in the touring cast of "Hamlet". Her Broadway debut came when she was 19, appearing in "The Time of Your Life".She appeared in many successful plays including "The Women", "Oklahoma!" and "Bloomer Girl". It was in the production of "Oklahoma!" that Celeste would originate the role of boy crazy Ado Annie and sing the show stopper "I Can't Say No". She was signed by 20th Century Fox in 1946 and appeared in her first film "Three Little Girls in Blue". With her third film 'Gentlemen's Agreement (1947)', she would win the Supporting Actress Oscar and a Golden Globe. Celeste would be nominated twice more for Academy Awards for her work in "Come to the Stable" (1949) which is screening here on Sunday at 2 PM and "All About Eve" (1950).

Celeste has appeared in a variety of films and television shows throughout her outstanding career including "Three Men and a Baby", the Wonder Woman series and continuing roles on "Cheers" and "Archie Bunker’s Place". In addition to her work in film and television, Celeste is a humanitarian and activist. She is a spokesperson for UNICEF and has received countless recognition the world over; in 1957 she was Knighted by King Olav V of Norway. Celeste believes that "the arts are the most humanizing influence in our society." She was appointed to the National Arts Council by Nancy Reagan and was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1992. Celeste is this year’s recipient of the Tony Randall Lifetime Achievement award, sharing the distinction with previous winners including Tony Randall for whom the award is named, Harvey Kietel, and David Duchovney.

News and information about Holm can be found at celesteholm.com