Tony Winner Glenn Close Addresses SCAD Graduates

Acclaimed actress and performer Glenn Close addressed the Savannah College of Art and Design graduating class of 2009 at commencement ceremonies in Savannah and Atlanta, May 30. Close spoke to graduates at SCAD's 29th Savannah commencement ceremony, 9 a.m., at the Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave. She then addressed graduates at SCAD-Atlanta's third commencement ceremony at the Georgia World Congress Center (Sidney Marcus Auditorium, Building A), 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. N.W.

"I'm really excited and honored to be here at this momentous occasion for the Savannah College of Art and Design's graduating class of 2009," said Close. "Congratulations! It's a very big deal."

"This year, SCAD celebrates its 30th anniversary," said SCAD president Paula S. Wallace. "These three decades have been full of beauty and joy."

Glenn Close is a beloved and acclaimed performer, creating unforgettable characters on stage, screen and television. A Tony, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe award winner, she began her career on stage with the New Phoenix Repertory Company in 1974, and, by 1980, received her first Tony nomination for her appearance in the Broadway musical, "Barnum." Subsequently, she received three Tony Awards for her performances in "The Real Thing," "Death and the Maiden" and for the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Sunset Boulevard." Close also won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, and a Drama-Logue Award for her performance as the aging star Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."

Making the leap from theater to film in 1982, Close debuted in "The World According to Garp." She immediately garnered an Academy Award nomination for her performance as the mother of Garp. Close received four additional Oscar nominations for performances in "The Big Chill," "The Natural," "Fatal Attraction" and "Dangerous Liaisons." Other popular films that she has appeared in include "Jagged Edge," "Reversal of Fortune," "Air Force One" and "101 Dalmatians."

On television, Close is most recently known for her new, critically acclaimed FX drama series, "Damages," of which the Los Angeles Times said, "Close's performance illuminates rather than outshines with its high wattage." In her Emmy and Golden Globe winning performance, Close plays a powerful attorney who can morph at lightning speed from sweet-talking seductress to icy, ruthless litigation machine. As the character Patty Hewes, Close keeps her audience and her fellow characters guessing over her next calculated move. She also won an Emmy Award for her TV film, "Serving in Silence," and a SAG Award and a Golden Globe for her performance in "The Lion in Winter."

In 2001, Close was recognized for her distinguished acting career with a Crystal Award from Women in Film. In 2003 she received an IFP Gotham Award for her significant contributions to the New York independent filmmaking community. In 2008, she received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, presented by Sherry Lansing at the Hollywood Reporter's annual Women In Entertainment event. Close served on the board of The Sundance Institute for 16 years. She is a supporter of Puppies Behind Bars and the soon to be launched "BringChange2Mind" national campaign to fight the stigma of mental illness.

For 30 years SCAD has offered the finest art and design education in the world, preparing talented students for creative, professional careers. In 2008, eight out of 10 SCAD graduates who participated in a survey were employed in their field or in graduate school within six months of graduation. In addition to SCAD's unrivaled career services, the university offers internships, competitions and classroom assignments designed to connect students with businesses, design firms, media and other educational and nonprofit organizations. Visiting professionals also meet with students to critique work, offer advice and recruit for internships and full-time positions.

With more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the United States, the Savannah College of Art and Design is uniquely qualified to prepare talented students for professional, creative careers. SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution that offers a choice of degree programs in 42 majors, plus 52 minors. Students can pursue their degrees at campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., in Lacoste, France, and online through SCAD-eLearning. The career preparation of each student is nurtured and cultivated by nearly 500 full-time professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience.

Named one of the nation's "Most Interesting Schools" and one of "25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future" by Kaplan-Newsweek, SCAD confers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees.

For more information, visit scad.edu.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.