A Creative Life: Exploring Film, Television, and the Performing Arts in America

George Stevens, Jr.

George is among the third generation of Stevens who summer on Islesboro, a well-known and admired good friend and neighbor, he preserves and continues the family influence on American taste and history through its enormous output for culture and the arts.

George grew up in Hollywood, son of director George Stevens (Alice Adams, Swing Time, A Place in the Sun, Shane, Giant) and went to Washington in 1962 to serve under Edward R. Morrow at the United States Information Agency, as head of USIA’s Motion Picture Service in the Kennedy administration.  His legacy is a 50-year career dedicated to motion pictures and the performing arts.  It includes establishing two enduring institutions:  Founding Director for the America Film Institute, 37 year co-creator and writer-producer of the Kennedy Center Honors.      Presented an Oscar in 2012 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement”, he also has been awarded 17 Emmys, 2 Peabody Awards, and the Humanitas Prize for his television shows. He has received eight awards from the Writers Guild of America for outstanding writing, and the Paul Selvin Award for writing that embodies civil rights and liberties.

Mr. Stevens has published two books: Conversations with the Great Movie Makers of Hollywood’s Golden Age (2006), prompted by a Seminar Series Stevens initiated in 1969, and Conversations with the Great Moviemakers – The Next Generation (2012).

He has served as Co-Chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities since his appointment by President Obama.