Alan Alda selected by SAG-AFTRA as 55th recipient of its annual life achievement award

Veteran actor Alan Alda has been selected by SAG-AFTRA as the 55th recipient of its annual life achievement award.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 82-year-old actor will be honoured at the 2019 SAG Awards on January 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The award is given annually to an actor who fosters the "finest ideals of the acting profession".

"It is an honour and privilege to announce that our SAG Life Achievement Award will be presented to the fabulous Alan Alda. He is an artiste whose body of work is a testament to the craft and the magic of our business.

"His ability to make us laugh, to think and to feel is extraordinary. From theater to television, movies, and new media Alan's dedication and talent are exceeded only by his contributions to a just and caring society," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

Alda is best known for portraying Dr Hawkeye Pierce on "M*A*S*H", for which he received five Emmys and 21 nominations for acting, writing and directing. He also won an Emmy for "The West Wing" for his work in playing Senator Arnold Vinick.

He is a member of the Television Hall of Fame and has won six Emmys, six Golden Globes, four DGA Awards (including the D W Griffith Award) and the WGA's Valentine Davis Award. He's also received three Tony Award nominations and an Oscar nod.

Past recipients of SAG's Life Achievement Award include Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett, Debbie Reynolds, and Betty White. Morgan Freeman won the award this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)