Actors Hall of Fame chooses 15 inductees

Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro among this year's honorees

By Gregg Kilday

April 15, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

Fifteen actors, ranging alphabetically from Julie Andrews to Meryl Streep, will be inducted this year into the Actors Hall of Fame.

The list of honorees, which the organization's president, Rusty Citron, will unveil Thursday, also includes Robert De Niro, Judi Dench, Robert Duvall, Kirk Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Olivia de Havilland, Hal Holbrook, Anthony Hopkins, James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, William H. Macy and Maggie Smith.

The Actors Hall of Fame honors career achievement in theater, film and television. Criteria for nomination include peer recognition and awards, humanitarian contribution to the dramatic arts and education and a demonstrated advancement of the craft of acting.

Honorees are voted for by members of the Actors Hall of Fame's board of electors, who are dramatic arts educators representing more than 100 accredited colleges and universities.

The new inductees join the 38 charter members of the hall.

An induction ceremony and celebration will take place this year in Los Angeles.

Actors Hall of Fame chooses 15 inductees

Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro among this year's honorees

By Gregg Kilday

April 15, 2009, 11:00 PM ET