Gere receives tribute award

The roll call of Hollywood legends who have received such an honour in the past is an illustrious one - James Stewart, Sidney Poitier and Robert De Niro. So who would be the next in line for the tribute called The American Museum of the Moving Image Salute?

After all, it has also already gone to Al Pacino, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Martin Scorsese, Julia Roberts and Goldie Hawn. So this year - particularly prestigious because it was being screened on US TV for the first time - the celebration was in honour of... Richard Gere.

Richard Gere? Admittedly, the man who shot to fame as the American Gigolo in 1980, has enjoyed hits like Pretty Woman and An Officer And A Gentleman. But his CV also includes lesser successes like Intersection.

Still, the American Museum of the Moving Image selected him as the 19th recipient of the award, presented at a Hollywood party. The guest list did not appear to be exactly packed with A-list celebrities. The event mustered Sharon Stone, Winona Ryder and Gere's wife Carey Lowell. And that was it.

Elizabeth Porter-Hogan, senior vicepresident for the event's sponsor, USA Network, said: "Honouring a well known and respected actor like Richard Gere,with a career spanning almost 30 years, is a great honour for us."