Advertisement

Obama honouring Robert DeNiro, Michael Jordan and Ellen DeGeneres with top civilian award

Barack Obama presents Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom in this May 29, 2012 file photo.
Barack Obama presents Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom in this May 29, 2012 file photo. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File

President Barack Obama is honouring actors Robert DeNiro, Cicely Tyson, Tom Hanks and Robert Redford with the nation’s highest civilian honour.

They are among 21 people Obama plans to recognize with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on Tuesday.

READ MORE: No mechanism to revoke Bill Cosby’s Medal of Freedom, says Obama

Honorees from the sports world include basketball players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, along with veteran sports broadcaster Vin Scully.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Entertainers include Ellen DeGeneres, Diana Ross and Bruce Springsteen.

WATCH: President Obama reads ‘Mean Tweets’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live! — including one from Donald Trump.

Click to play video: 'President Obama reads ‘Mean Tweets’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – including one from Donald Trump'
President Obama reads ‘Mean Tweets’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – including one from Donald Trump

Other honorees are philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, polymath physicist Richard Garwin, architect Frank Gehry, designer Maya Lin, “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels, attorney Newt Minow, mathematician and computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton, and Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College in Florida.

Story continues below advertisement

Posthumous honours will go to Native American advocate Elouise Cobell and Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.

Sponsored content

AdChoices