Hollywood A-listers-Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, Renée Zellweger, and Kurt Russell-filled The Waldorf's Grand Ballroom to salute fellow show-biz heavyweight, Academy Award-winner Ron Howard, at The Museum of the Moving Image annual gala.
One of the industry's most accomplished filmmakers, first known as the lovable Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and then as straight-laced teen Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, Howard went on to find his niche in producing and directing. In 2002, he won the "Best Director" Oscar for A Beautiful Mind.
The film phenom was comically eulogized by Carrey. And Hanks, currently starring in Howard's latest directorial project, The Da Vinci Code (due out this May), made a surprise appearance.
Russell Crowe was expected, but missing in action, and Keaton made sure to comment on the quick-tempered actor's absence, saying, "The bad news is that Russell Crowe isn't here. The good news is that we don't have to listen to his [bleeping] band. They suck. They're horrible. John McCain came up with the anti-torture bill about them."
Making the director's cut: Edie Falco, Michael Lynne, Jeffrey Tambor, Paul Bettany, Goldie Hawn, Brian Grazer, Paul Giamatti, and Lauren Zalaznick.
One of the many "Happy Days!"
