Actress Jamie Lee Curtis received an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree from the American Film Institute Saturday “for contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image,” the AFI announced.
The honor was bestowed during the AFI Conservatory’s Class of 2024 commencement ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre, where Curtis was introduced on stage by John Carpenter, who directed her in 1978’s “Halloween” in the film that made her a star.
“She was and is a force of nature,” Carpenter said of Curtis.
“Life hinges on a couple seconds you never see coming,” Curtis told the audience of AFI Fellows upon completion of their two years of study in the institute’s MFA program. “Stay open, stay free, stay engaged, stay absolutely enthusiastic, don’t get lazy, fight for it, work for it, save the universe please, god bless you all, thank you.”
In addition to her multiple appearances in the “Halloween” franchise, Curtis, 65, had notable roles in the films “True Lies” (1994), “A Fish Called Wanda” (1988) and “Perfect” (1985), among others. She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
She is the daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.