"Morgan Freeman is an American treasure," said Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI board of trustees, in a statement on Monday. "Across decades, whether playing a prisoner, a president or God, he embodies a calm authority that demands respect for the charactger and for the art form"
Previous recipients include Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Sean Connery, Clint Eastwood, Alfred Hitchcock, Bette Davis, Orson Welles and last year's honoree, Mike Nichols.
