AFI Honors Penn Family With Platinum Circle Award

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —

The American Film Institute presented its Platinum Circle Award to the multi-talented Penn family on October 1, at a lively and emotional luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Accepting the award were family mother and actress, Eileen Ryan Penn; singer/composer Michael Penn, his wife, singer/composer Aimee Mann; actor Sean Penn and his wife, actress/producer Robin Wright Penn; and actor Chris Penn. The program also included a moving tribute by Martin Sheen to the Penn family patriarch, producer, writer, director and actor Leo Penn.

In addition to Sheen, the award presentation ceremony included tributes from Stockard Channing, Peter Falk, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Matt Palmieri, Suzanne Pleshette, and Brett Ratner.

The Platinum Circle Honorary Committee was chaired by Robert De Niro, Clint and Dina Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, and Martin and Janet Sheen.

Among the 600 attendees of the luncheon were Patricia Barry, Jim Caviezel, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, Stephen Dorff, Clint Eastwood, Martin Landau, Mike Medavoy, Jack Nicholson, Daniel Petrie Jr., Mark Rydell, Dick Van Dyke and Steven Zaillian.

The prestigious Platinum Circle Award is given to a family whose creative contributions significantly enhance the entertainment community. Previous recipients include the families of Daniel and Dorothea Petrie, Henry Fonda, Debbie Reynolds and Walter Matthau. Proceeds benefit the programs of the American Film Institute. — Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen