Actor Peter Dinklage will receive a Performer Tribute and The Actors Fund will receive the Gotham Impact Salute during the 2021 Gotham Awards Ceremony, taking place live and in person on Monday, November 29, 2021 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, stated: “The roots of Peter Dinklage’s extraordinary career are firmly grounded in independent film. As his work has grown in major features and TV shows to reach audiences everywhere, Peter has remained a steadfast supporter of this community of independent artists, bringing so many iconic characters to life through his powerful, captivating, and often hilarious performances. Cyrano puts Peter’s full range as an actor on display. We are thrilled to recognize this most treasured performer who has won the hearts of audiences across the world as part of this year’s celebration.”
A constant force in the acting world, and one of the most consistently acclaimed actors of his generation, Peter Dinklage first redefined the conception of a leading man in the 2003 movie The Station Agent. Mr. Dinklage’s performance alongside Patricia Clarkson and Bobby Cannavale brought him Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award nominations, among other accolades. He memorably portrayed Tyrion Lannister in the global phenomenon Game of Thrones; starring in the epic television series from its 2011 premiere through its 2019 finale, he won four Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among other honors. He has also won a Screen Actors Guild Award, with his fellow actors from the ensemble, in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category for Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Dinklage most recently starred in Cyrano, which had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival in September. Adapted from a play by Erica Schmidt, which Dinklage also starred in, the film has received rave reviews and is scheduled to be released on December 31, 2021, by United Artists Releasing. Dinklage’s other notable film work has included Reed Morano’s I Think We’re Alone Now, opposite Elle Fanning, which he also produced and which won the Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival; Tom DiCillo’s cult classic Living in Oblivion; J Blakeson’s I Care A Lot; the all-star X-Men: Days of Future Past; Avengers: Infinity War; both the UK and the U.S. iterations of the farce Death at a Funeral, directed respectively by Frank Oz and Neil LaBute; Sidney Lumet’s Find Me Guilty; and Mark Palansky’s Rememory, with Anton Yelchin.
He starred as actor Hervé Villechaize in, and executive-produced, Sacha Gervasi’s telefilm My Dinner with Hervéo; in the latter capacity he received Emmy, Producers Guild of America, and Critics Choice Awards nominations with the producing team. Mr. Dinklage and David Ginsberg founded the production company Estuary Films in 2016. Dinklage’s extensive theater credits include A Month in the Country, for the Classic Stage Company; Things We Want, with The New Group, for which he received a Drama League Award nomination; the world premiere of Knickerbocker, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival; and the title roles in Richard III, Uncle Vanya, and Cyrano.
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services. The Fund offers a broad spectrum of programs, a calendar of workshops, support groups and online resources to support the unique, essential needs of all who work in entertainment and the performing arts.
Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, stated: “We at The Gotham are thrilled to recognize the tremendous work of The Actors Fund with our Impact Tribute in recognition of their leadership role in providing resources, care and financial support to members of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March of 2020, he Actors Fund has provided more than $23.9 million in direct financial assistance to more than 17,100 people in need. There are few organizations in our industry that play such a pivotal role in lifting up and supporting so many performing arts and entertainment professionals by offering a wide array of essential services while addressing a variety of challenges faced by workers of all backgrounds. We are honored to recognize their incredible work supporting the many people who keep us entertained.”
In 2020, The Actors Fund helped more than 40,000 people, from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, across all of their programs and services. This is 71% more people helped in 2020 than in 2019. They also helped people from 126 different occupations (including those behind the scenes and non-union workers), a 55% increase of non-performers making use of their offerings and resources. The Actors Fund continues to respond to the needs of the entertainment community with direct financial assistance; health insurance navigation and health care; navigating employment options in a COVID economy; financial wellness services; mental health, addiction & recovery support; affordable housing opportunities and resources; and more.
It was previously announced that Kristen Stewart will receive a Performer Tribute, Eamonn Bowles the Industry Tribute, the cast of The Harder They Fall the Ensemble Tribute and Jane Campion the Director’s Tribute.