The Talented Mr. Damon Gets Feted!

Canada

The Talented Mr. Damon Gets Feted!

Fri., Aug. 28, 2009 7:55 AM PDT by Josh Grossberg

ANDERSON/VILA/bauergriffin.com

Matt Damon is adding to his mantle.

He's only 38 but the thespian has just been tapped to receive his first lifetime achievement honor, the American Cinematheque Award.

According to Variety, Damon has agreed to accept the award in person, leading ABC to schedule the kudocast for primetime. AMC previously hosted the event the past four years.

Not a bad draw if we may say so.

The actor will have to wait awhile though. The Cinematheque folks have decided to push back the ceremony from its usual October birth to March 27, 2010 so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle of awards season. Consequently, the honor will technically be skipping 2009.

Damon, who won an Oscar over a decade ago for penning Good Will Hunting which he also starred in, has gone on to headline several Hollywood blockbusters including Ocean's Eleven and its sequels and The Bourne trilogy. His performances have also been heralded in such films as The Talented Mr. Ripley, Saving Private Ryan, All The Pretty Horses, Syriana, The Departed, and The Good Shepherd.

The Cinematheque award is given out annually to artists who are "committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion pictures."

Past honorees include Samuel L. Jackson, who was lauded last year, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Al Pacino, Steve Martin, Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster.