Actress Anjelica Huston, broadcaster Merv Griffin and author Ray Bradbury have become recipients of NUI Galway's first honorary degrees to be conferred outside Ireland.
The conferring ceremony, held in Los Angeles last night, was followed by a black tie fundraising gala for the college.
The university said yesterday it had raised more than $1.2 million towards developing its Huston school of film and digital media as a result of the initiative in the Beverly Hilton, which was preceded by a week-long programme of cultural events.
The honorary graduates were selected for their strong Irish roots, as well as their financial influence. The conferring was carried out by NUI chancellor Dr Garret Fitz-Gerald.
US stage and screen celebrities were invited to the gala event afterwards, which was presented by NUI Galway graduate and Sky News Ireland anchor Gráinne Seoige.
Anjelica Huston is daughter of the late film director John Huston and spent her childhood in at the family home, St Cleran's, in Craughwell, Co Galway.
She was awarded an Oscar for her performance in Prizzi's Honor, making her the first third-generation Academy Award winner in history.
Parts in her father's final directorial effort, The Dead (1987) and Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) are among her many film performances. She is patron of the Huston school which was established in 2003 at the university.
Writer Ray Bradbury has more than 500 published works, and wrote the screenplay for John Huston's Moby Dick in Ireland in 1953.
His many literary awards include the US National Book Foundation's 2000 medal for distinguished contribution to American letters.
Merv Griffin hosted one of the most successful television talk shows in the US, from 1965-86, and his game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy are described by NUIG as one of his most lasting contributions to US popular culture. He has received many Emmy awards and currently owns the former Huston property of St Cleran's, which he restored.
Galway university president Dr Iognaid Ó Muircheartaigh said that the university was very proud to honour the recipients who have made significant artistic and humanitarian contributions and who have achieved fame the world over.
The university intends to use the recently-raised funds from private donors to develop programmes at the Huston school, including a programme of invited residencies, allowing students to come into direct contact with a range of Irish and international film artists.
