The only way I am here is working with artists and people such as yourselves. I am not here without working with such talented, beautiful artists and people. The only way I am standing here is to have worked with such beautiful, wonderful artists in the past.
I have been a part of some films that have been embraced and I am very grateful. They have changed my life. They have given me life. They have provided life. And I am very grateful to the people who have enjoyed these films. Without your support, I am not standing here. Actually most of the people who are standing or sitting here are not here without your support. Thank you.
I started acting when I was fifteen-years-old in Toronto, Canada and I traveled in my first car when I was twenty years old across the country to Los Angeles, California… to Hollywood – with a dream. That dream! A dream I share with – I am sure – so many here and probably with most, if not all, of the artists memorialized and celebrated in this remarkable place.
The dream! To be in pictures. To be in movies. To be in films. To be in cinema… but first, I had to get an agent or a manager, and in my case it was a manager – Erwin Stoff.
Erwin, without all of your belief and support and without all of what you did for me, I would not be here. Literally – I would not be here! So, thank you. I am forever grateful.
And then, Erwin introduced me to an agent. Not just any agent, but a spectacular agent and a person Hildy Gottlieb. Hildy, I thank you for believing in me and giving that kid a chance, an opportunity for opportunity. I will be forever grateful.
And I’d like to thank my agents who are here today. Meredith… Where are you, Meredith? Meredith? Where are you? Hello, Meredith. Chris and Keith – Thank you for being here and for all that you do for me and for helping me to continue to have a career. And to my agents in the past – Kevin, Jimmy and Patrick – I thank you. I thank you very much.
I want to thank my stepfather Paul Aaron, who as a director shared with me his world of the theater and film, who inspired him to dream and train as an actor and provided the opportunity to get in that car and have a safe place to land, to start.
I want to thank all of the artists, teachers, agents and friends I had the opportunity to work with and to learn with in Toronto, especially Rose Dubin, who oversaw the theater program at the JCC where she created what was a haven for young artists to learn. It’s where I had the chance to play Mercutio at sixteen and where I was seen by an agent and so started my professional career and my love of Shakespeare.
I want to thank my friends who are here today. Claire, where are you? Josh, Robert, Janie, Alexandra, Cheryl. Cheryl? Hello, Cheryl. Cheryl — I love you. I love you all. Thank you.
And I want to thank my mom! Who, when I said to her, when I was fifteen — “Is it okay if I am an actor?” She said, “Do whatever you want to do, darling”… and so it began!
I love movies. Gosh, I love movies! I love watching them and I love making them. It is an honor to be here today to celebrate – in this Hollywood hallowed ground – pictures, movies, films, cinema! With all of the artists who have made their mark here of the past, the present and the future and with you. Thank you.
Now let’s go play in some cement.”