
Actress Viola Davis, actor Henry Winkler and producer/writer/director Ryan Murphy were among the inductees announced Tuesday for the Television Academy’s 27th Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame honors people “who have made outstanding contributions in the arts, sciences or management of television over a lifetime career or via singular achievements,” according to the academy. More than 150 people have already been inducted since the Hall was created in 1984.
Davis won an Emmy Award for her leading role in “How to Get Away With Murder,” becoming the first Black woman to win the prize for lead actress in a drama series. Winkler is a three-time Emmy winner, best known for her role as The Fonz on “Happy Days,” but also for roles in “Barry,” “Arrested Development” and other series. Murphy is known for his work on shows such as “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee,” “American Horror Story,” “Pose” and “Monster.”
Also being nominated in this year’s Hall of Fame class are producer/director Don Mischer, a 15-time Emmy winner who has helmed Emmy Award broadcasts, The Kennedy Center Honors and Super Bowl halftime shows; comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien, who has won five Emmys and twice hosted the Emmy Awards, along with this year’s Oscar telecast; musician/composer/producer Mike Post, whose penned music for shows including “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue,” “The A-Team,” “The Rockford Files” and “Hill Street Blues.”
“These trailblazing performers, creators and producers have left an indelible mark on our industry. Their groundbreaking work has shaped and elevated the television landscape in profound ways,” Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “We are honored to welcome these legends into the Hall of Fame and to recognize their exceptional contributions to the evolution of television.”
The honorees will be inducted Aug. 16 during the Televerse Festival at the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.