Steve Martin, Martin Short and more roast and honour Eugene Levy

Eugene Levy has some pretty big celebrity connections out there. The world was reminded of them this week when the actor was awarded the Newport Beach Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, and several of them came together (virtually) to roast and honour him. As friends and family tend to do.In the surprise video montage the likes of Steve Martin, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Coolidge, his kids Dan and Sarah Levy, and several cast members from Schitt’s Creek share messages that poke fun at the actor and writer while also revealing a few nice words about their experiences working with him.“First let me say what an honour it is for me to not be there tonight, to be able to tribute you and not really have to do much or go anywhere and just stay home, is such a thrill,” Martin jokes. “But you know Eugene, you’re special. Because you… are a person. You know, I see people all the time on the streets, sometimes in crowds, sometimes alone. And I think, Eugene could be walking down that street. He is a person. He is a person too. And I happen to know that the Newport Beach Film Festival wanted to give this award to a person.”"Congratulations to my beloved and greatest friend Eugene Levy on the Newport Beach Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award,” Short begins in his own tribute. “Eugene is like family to me, in that we often eat dinner in total silence… he has become this absolute living legend.” Short then leans into the camera and yells, “EUGENE! I WAS TELLING EVERYONE HOW YOU’VE BECOME THIS LIVING LEGEND!”Later in the video Short turns serious, adding, “There’s no one funnier. There’s no one more prolific as a writer. There’s no one smarter. And there’s no one kinder… I love you very much Eugene and I send all my hearty congratulations to you on your night.”He wasn’t the only one sending positive vibes though. In between stories from Schitt’s Creek co-stars like Dustin Milligan, Rizwan Manji, Karen Robinson, and a very bushy faced Chris Elliott, Dan Levy says some heartfelt words too.

 

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Watch my Dad try to hold back the tears when he is surprised by his friends and cast mates in this little tribute video for his Lifetime Achievement Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Love you, Dad! You deserve it all. ❤️

A post shared by Dan Levy (@instadanjlevy) on Aug 11, 2020 at 10:31am PDT

“A lifetime. A lifetime recognition. And you’re only halfway there,” Dan says. “You are very good at what you do and you set a bar for everyone that you work with. You are incredibly professional. You are incredibly kind. And you have been such a role model for me just in terms of how to be good, generally. And good at your job.”His son then continues, “You somehow manage to turn the silliest characters into the most heartwarming, likeable, charming people. You have an uncanny ability to find the heart in everything you do and that is because you are such a loving person.” The younger Levy then wraps the entire montage with yet another laugh. “And um yeah… a lifetime. Gosh, those are only given to people who are very, very old.”Throughout the package Eugene Levy can be seen reacting to each and every person who recorded a message, and he sheds a few tears while laughing from a chair in what looks to be his home office (complete with a picture of him and John Candy in the background).“Okay there. Look at this. Are you happy now? Are you happy now?” Levy says at the end, wiping away at his face and joking, “Well it was a good life. It was a good life while I had it.” When virtual presenter, Variety’s Michael Schneider, asks Levy if he has anything to add it appears as though he was still too overcome with emotion.“Honestly I’m so taken aback. That was one of the greatest packages of tributes that I’ve ever seen. So funny, so sweet. Oh my god,” he says. “I never would have been… I’m never one to go tapping my friends for things. I never honestly expected it, but the fact that they came through and… oh my god I don’t know. I love them but to be honest… I love them all. I love them all.”It definitely seems like the feeling is mutual.