Morgan Freeman has been selected by the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Board of Trustees to receive the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film.

I find these tributes entertaining with celebrities telling personal stories about  the honoree as they praise their work and talent. You can find clips of tributes on YouTube as well. The tributes are fun to watch if you are ever at home alone and all your friends are at a birthday party that you didn’t get invited to.

“Morgan Freeman is an American treasure,” Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees.  ”Across decades, whether playing a prisoner, a president or God, he embodies a calm authority that demands respect for the character and for the art form.  His gifts to the cultural record are also underscored by his   unmistakable voice that echoes through the hearts and minds of movie lovers around the world.  AFI is proud to present him with its 39th Life Achievement Award.”

Freeman is not only a celebrated actor he is also an award winning actor.  He won the Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Million Dollar Baby. In 1990 he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance in Driving Miss Daisy.

The award will be presented to Freeman at a gala tribute on Thursday, June 9, 2011 in Los Angeles. TV Land will broadcast the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute.