The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles will honor Ricky Gervais with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy.
The annual celebration will take place on Oct. 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, hosted by British actor and comedian Jack Whitehall. Ang Lee will be honored with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing and Samuel L. Jackson will be honored with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.
“Ricky Gervais is a comic genius. He is provocative, edgy, and his observations on life have brought us some of the best comedy moments ever in television and film,” said BAFTA Los Angeles CEO Chantal Rickards. “He crosses the pond with consummate ease, continues to push the comedic boundaries, and we’re looking forward to raising a glass to his incomparable talents at the Britannia Awards.”
Gervais has won three Golden Globes, two Primetime Emmys and seven BAFTAs. The organization noted that “The Office,” which Gervais created with Stephen Merchant and launched on BBC in 2001, is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes.
Gervais hosted the Golden Globes in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and was invited back for a fourth time in January. Most recently, Gervais starred in “Special Correspondents,” which debuted worldwide on Netflix earlier this year, and will be seen in the upcoming fake documentary comedy film “David Brent: Life on the Road,” which he wrote, directed and produced.
