Don Cheadle, Clint Eastwood and Betty White celebrate Morgan Freeman's AFI Award

Samuel L. Jackson and Helen Mirren also honored the Oscar winner

By Sandy Cohen (AP) Friday, Jun 10, 2011 3:17 AM

Don Cheadle, Clint Eastwood and Betty White celebrate Morgan Freeman's AFI Award

Morgan Freeman at his AFI tribute.

Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles

CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) — Clint Eastwood, Helen Mirren, Tim Robbins and Forest Whitaker were among the stars on hand to honor Morgan Freeman as he received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award.

Betty White, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle and Sidney Poitier also feted the 74-year-old actor during a private ceremony Thursday at Sony Studios in Culver City, Calif.

The three-hour celebration included clips of Freeman's legendary films and early performances, including him singing and dancing on TV's "The Electric Company" in the early 1970s. There was also a musical tribute: Garth Brooks and a chorus performed "Lean on Me," the title of a 1989 film featuring Freeman in the leading role.

Freeman is the 39th recipient of the AFI honor, which recognizes those whose talent helps advance the art of film