New York University President John Sexton today bestowed an honorary doctorate on award-winning actor and Tisch School of the Arts alumnus Alec Baldwin at NYU’s 178th Commencement Exercises in Yankee Stadium. Over 25,000 graduates, faculty, staff, and guests attended the morning ceremony.
New York University President John Sexton today bestowed an honorary doctorate on award-winning actor and Tisch School of the Arts alumnus Alec Baldwin at NYU’s 178th Commencement Exercises in Yankee Stadium. Over 25,000 graduates, faculty, staff, and guests attended the morning ceremony.
The following citation was read in conferring the Doctor of Fine Arts degree, honoris causa, on Alec Baldwin:
"Alec Baldwin—accomplished actor of stage, screen, and television, you move with exemplary ease across these media, leaving your imprint on each. You have appeared in over 40 films, and your portrayal of a driven and ruthless real estate agent in Glengarry Glen Ross has entered the cultural zeitgeist. Declining to appear in the sequel to your breakout film, The Hunt for Red October, you chose instead to deliver a stellar performance on the New York stage as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, thereby earning a Tony Award nomination. Your television roles—from Saturday Night Live to the current 30 Rock—have brought you critical acclaim and multiple awards. From dark drama to broad comedy, your artistic span has widened over a remarkable career. Beginning your professional training at NYU in 1979, you returned in 1994 to complete your Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Tisch School, a community which you have, through wise counsel and generous support, helped build into a foremost school of arts in the nation. Outspoken and honest, you are a true New Yorker and a passionate advocate for the arts, education, and culture.
"Alec Baldwin—actor and activist, colleague and mentor, you are a beloved alumnus, and we take special pride in bestowing this second NYU degree on you today. As you enter the next chapter of your life, we wish for you abounding joy in the exploration of magnificent new expressions of your creative genius. By virtue of the authority vested in me by New York University, I am pleased to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa."