Sir Lenny Henry joined some distinguished company by receiving an honorary degree from the University of Oxford.
The 63-year-old actor and comedian was among nine recipients of the award at a ceremony held Wednesday at the Sheldonian Theater in Oxford.
Sir Lenny was depicted wearing a gray plaid suit, a ceremonial red and black robe, and a black cardboard hat as he walked in the procession before the ceremony.
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Sir Lenny Henry walks in procession before receiving an honorary degree from the University of Oxford (Jacob King/Pennsylvania)
Born in Dudley, Sir Lenny won the New Faces talent competition in 1975 and started working in television when he was 16 years old.
He went on to star in numerous television shows including Broadchurch, The Syndicate, Long Song, and the biopic Danny and the Human Zoo.
In 2016, the actor received the Bafta Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television.
He also co-founded the charity Comic Relief with director Richard Curtis in 1985 and founded the Lenny Henry Diversity Center at Birmingham City University, where he is chancellor.
Sir Lenny received a knighthood from the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2015.
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The award-winning actor was among nine recipients of this award (Jacob King/PA).
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Also among the laureates were Wim Wenders, a prominent figure in modern German cinema, British scientist Bernard Taylor and Professor Susan Solomon, who is considered a world leader in the study of the atmosphere.
Professor Theda Skocpol, American sociologist, environmentalist Dr. Jane Lubchenko, American medievalist Professor William Chester Jordan, telecommunications entrepreneur Dr. Mo Ibrahim, and Professor Ara Varkes Darzi, Baron Darzi of Denham, surgeon and politician, were also awarded honorary degrees.
Professor Dame Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee, said: “We are delighted to be able to recognize and celebrate the countless accomplishments of our nine distinguished laureates in a wide variety of fields.
“Together they have educated us, entertained us and improved the lives of people around the world.”
