Kevin Spacey to receive Pell Award

PROVIDENCE—Academy-Award winning actor Kevin Spacey will be honored in Newport for his film and theater career.

Spacey will receive the National Pell Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts at a gala event in June.

The award is named for former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, who died Jan. 1.

Trinity Repertory Company said Thursday it selected Spacey for the award because of his dedication to live theater and film and his humanitarian work.

Pell championed the arts and education during his 36 years in the Senate representing Rhode Island.

Former recipients of the award include playwright Arthur Miller, novelist Toni Morrison and actor-director Robert Redford.