Spielberg, Streisand, Perlman receive America’s top honor

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama awarded the highest civilian honor Tuesday to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the man behind Hollywood hits “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park” and “Indiana Jones.”

“Steven’s films are marked most importantly by a faith in our common humanity,” Obama said as he awarded him the Medal of Freedom.

“His stories have shaped America’s story, and his values have shaped our world.”

Obama noted Spielberg’s work in founding the Shoah Foundation, which records testimonies of survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust.

The director, who has won three Oscars and whose films have grossed more than $9 billion in ticket sales, is renowned for his ability to navigate between various genres, from blockbusters like “Jurassic Park” to historic dramas like “Schindler’s List.”

“Film has always been the greatest way for me to unburden myself of my demons and to therefore cast my demons on you,” he said earlier this month while presenting his Cold War thriller “Bridge of Spies” in Berlin.

Among the 17 awardees at the White House ceremony were singer-director Barbra Streisand and songwriter James Taylor.

Of Streisand, Obama said: “She has sold more albums in America than any woman in history. She has collected just about every honor and award that there is. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t gotten this one. Off the stage, she has been a passionate advocate for issues like heart disease and women’s equality. I’m getting all “verklempt” just thinking about it.”

Among other entertainment stars honored were music producer Emilio Estefan and pop star Gloria Estefan, a Cuban American couple seen as trailblazers for being Spanish-language stars who successfully crossed over to the English-language market.

Grammy-winner Itzhak Perlman and composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim also received the honor alongside baseball great Willie Mays and fellow legend Yogi Berra, who got a posthumous award.

Perlman, said the president, was once asked in an interview “what sound he loves, and his eyes lit up and he replied, ‘The sound of onions sizzling in a pan.’ This is a man of large appetites who knows how to live. He also happens to be a pretty good musician, and persevered through childhood polio to become not only a virtuoso but also a powerful advocate for people with disabilities. He has played with every major orchestra in the world, conducted many of them, taught generations of young musicians. He has won Grammys. He has won Emmys. He’s performed with all the greats — Leonard Bernstein. Yo-Yo Ma. Telly from Sesame Street. But what truly sets him apart and what makes him perhaps the most beloved violinist of our time is that he approaches music the way he approaches everything in life — with passion and with joy. He lays bare the soul of a piece, making us feel each note, and giving us a glimpse of something bigger than ourselves. And by doing so, he makes the world a little more beautiful.”