Actor-producer-director, Danny DeVito is the recipient of the 2018 Jack Valenti - Los Angels Italian Legend Award, in memory of long-time MPAA president Jack Valenti. It is the festival’s highest honor and is given annually to an outstanding Italian-American who has made major contributions to the global motion picture industry. Al Pacino, Anjelica Huston, Liza Minnelli and Sylvester Stallone are the prior recipients. 

”It’s a wonderful honor to receive this award. I am from New Jersey where my mom was born too, while my father was born in New York. My grandparents are from San Fele, in Basilicata. Being Italian –American, my parents were loving and caring, but in my house there was also this thing: no matter where you were, if there was an Italian doing something on TV, like Perry Como or Dean Martin, my father would get you and stick you in front of the tv, we had to be glued to watch it. He was very proud of any Italian being successful and being recognize for that.