ABOVE: Jane Wagner (L) and Lily Tomlin. (Photo via Twitter)
The Matthew Shepard Foundation announced Aug. 26 that legendary comedian Lily Tomlin and wife Jane Wagner would be the recipients of the organization’s 2020 Making A Difference Award.
“The Making a Difference Award recognizes individuals and organizations committed to replacing hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance,” the organization states on its website. “We honor their unwavering and longstanding leadership in working towards a world free of hate.”
Excited to announce we will be honoring @LilyTomlin & Jane Wagner as this year’s Making a Difference Award recipients for their unwavering commitment to replacing hate with understanding, compassion & acceptance.
For info on our live stream virtual gala: https://t.co/A89C90fdSF pic.twitter.com/jzAjGoRMf1
— Matthew Shepard Foundation (@MattShepardFDN) August 26, 2020
Tomlin began her career in stand up in the 1960s before gaining worldwide fame on the variety Show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” Tomlin went on to become an award-winning actress and a bonafide movie star with hit films like “9 to 5,” “Nashville,” “All of Me” and “The Incredible Shrinking Woman.” Tomlin currently stars opposite Jane Fonda in the hit Netflix series “Grace and Frankie.”
Wagner is an award-winning writer, director and producer. She is the author of Tomlin’s one-woman show “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” and her hit film “The Incredible Shrinking Woman.”
Tomlin and Wagner met in 1971 and married in 2013.
Tomlin and Wagner will be recognized at the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s annual gala Oct. 10. The gala, titled “Rising Together,” will be a live-streamed, virtual event. Past recipients of this honor include Samira Wiley, Nathan Lane, George Takei, Sir Elton John, former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts and the late Congressman John Lewis.
For more information, visit MatthewShepard.org/Gala.
