Film festival to honour London-born Hollywood star. But which one?

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Hooray for Hollywood . . . and for London. The Forest City Film Festival is set on Aug. 1 to announce the winner of its first Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment Award – honouring one London-born star, and also underscoring the entire rich tradition of actors and actresses who’ve gone from the heart of Southwestern Ontario to the film and TV capital. But who will they choose? LFP reporter Jane Sims has a few ideas:

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HUME CRONYN

Cronyn had one of the longest and most diverse careers on the stage, small screen and in film starting in the 1940s. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1944 for his work in the Seventh Cross, won a Tony Award for Polonius in 1964 and won an Emmy in 1990 for his work in the TV-movie Age-Old Friends. He had a lifelong relationship with the Stratford Festival and debuted his play, Foxfire, there in 1980. Born in London in 1911 as the son of a Member of Parliament and a Labatt Brewery heiress, Cronyn is best known for his partnership in life and on the stage with wife Jessica Tandy. He was an Officer in Order of Canada, inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and, along with Tandy, was awarded an honorary doctor of laws from Western University in 1974. Cronyn died in 2001 at age 91.

VICTOR GARBER

An Officer of the Order of Canada, the 75-year-old actor might be best known for his TV role as Jack Bristow in Alias, for which he nominated for an Emmy three times. But Garber’s career has spanned more than five decades, notably starting with a starring role as Jesus Christ in the Toronto production of Godspell, which helped launch the careers of other big stars including Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Andrea Martin, Paul Shaffer and Martin Short. He was a mainstay on Broadway, TV and film, racking up nominations for three Gemini Awards, four Tony Awards and six Primetime Emmys. His resume includes film work in Sleepless in Seattle, Milk, the Academy Award-winning Argo and one of the biggest box-office hits ever, Titanic. Born in London in 1949, he attended the former Ryerson elementary school and Central secondary school. He was part of a Grand Theatre children’s program and began studying theatre at age 16 at the University of Toronto.

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RACHEL MCADAMS

McAdams, 45, has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. She made her mark in the films Mean Girls and the Notebook, then was a regular in blockbuster films including Wedding Crashers, the Family Stone and Spotlight, for which she earned an Oscar nomination. She has starred in the second season of True Detective and this year was nominated for a Tony Award for her starring role in Mary Jane, her Broadway debut. Born in London in 1978, McAdams grew up in St. Thomas, attending Central Elgin collegiate and participating in London’s Original Kids Theatre Company. She studied at York University in fine arts before making the jump to Canadian TV and film productions.

KATE NELLIGAN

Both an Oscar and a four-time Tony Award nominee, Nelligan, 74, began her career on the stage in London, England in the 1970s. Her theatre career flourished and she moved to Broadway in the early 1980s. Her film resume includes Eye of the Needle, Frankie and Johnny and the Prince of Tides, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. One of six children, Nelligan born in London in 1950 and raised here by a mother she once told People Magazine suffered from alcoholism and related mental-health issues. Nelligan, an elite amateur tennis player in her teens, attended South collegiate institute in Old South. Her most recent film role was 2007’s Premonition, alongside Sandra Bullock.

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GENE LOCKHART

An Oscar-nominated actor for the 1938 film Algiers, Lockhart was also a playwright and musician. He appeared in more than 300 films, notably in A Christmas Carol, in which he played Bob Crachit, as the judge in Miracle on 34^th Street, and as a sheriff in His Girl Friday. Lockhart was born in London in 1891 and made his professional debut at age six. He attended school both in Canada and England. He played football for the Toronto Argonauts. He was the father of June Lockhart, a Hollywood star who had a 90-year career that included roles as mothers in Lassie and Lost in Space. Lockhart died in 1957 at age 65. He was married to Kathleen Lockhart (nee Arthur) who had a four-decade acting career of her own.

jsims@postmedia.com

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