Honorary Oscar for Edwards

Veteran director-writer Blake Edwards has been selected to receive an honorary Oscar by the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The award will be presented during the 76th Academy Awards on Feb. 29th.

Edwards, the husband of Academy Award-winning actress Julie Andrews, made his film debut as an actor 61 years ago in “Ten Gentlemen From West Point” and wrote his first film, which he also produced, “Panhandle,” in 1948. Four years later, he debuted as a director with the television series “Four Star Playhouse.”

The 81-year-old Edwards is best known for his comedic movies such “Victor/Victoria,” “Operation Petticoat,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the popular “Pink Panther” movies (including “The Pink Panther” and “A Shot in the Dark”) “10” and “The Party,” but he’s also excelled at dramas (“The Days of Wine and Roses”) and even thrillers (“Experiment in Terror”). He was also the creator of two popular TV series in the late 1950s: “Peter Gunn” and “Mr. Lucky.”