The veteran actor-director-producer Clint Eastwood is to receive the 39th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award in recognition of his career and humanitarian accomplishments. The accolade goes each year to an actor who is deemed to foster the highest ideals of the profession and will be presented at the 9th Annual SAG Awards on March 9, 2003.

"Clint Eastwood is truly a film icon, a celebrated star of international magnitude," SAG president Melissa Gilbert said in a statement issued today. "His prolific career as an actor and film-maker demonstrates a total command of the medium that has rightly earned him the admiration of his peers, the industry and the public.

"Over the past 42 years he has starred in a remarkable 44 films and appeared in 55. As we announced this accolade from his fellow actors, Mr Eastwood is directing his 24th motion picture [Mystic River], his 19th as producer. He has translated his civic concerns and business acumen into elected office and public service. Screen Actors Guild is honoured by his acceptance of this award."

Eastwood is no stranger to lifetime achievement awards and has garnered more than a fistful down the years from, among others, the Chicago Film Festival, National Board of Review, Producers' Guild of America, People's Choice Awards, Academy Awards and American Film Institute.