Recipients of the National Institute of Social Sciences Gold Medal associated with film and/or Hollywood
The National Institute of Social Sciences “is a Congressionally chartered not-for-profit association of public-spirited citizens.” The organization’s mission is to “celebrate knowledge,” and to that end, it has since 1913 been presenting Gold Medals for Distinguished Service to Humanity to “extraordinary individuals who have made the highest contribution to the improvement of society.”
“We are a community of the intellectually curious who seek to understand and improve our world through the study and discussion of vital societal issues,” says the organization on its mission statement.
Recipients of the Gold Medal tend to be members of government, military members, diplomats, academics, authors, business leaders and media voices. A small number of Hollywood figures, or people at least somewhat associated with film, have received medals.
The institute says the gold medal was designed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser (1889-1966).
Recipients associated with film/Hollywood include:
Helen Hayes, 1959 — Best Actress Oscar winner for “The Sin of Madelon Claudet” (1931); Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner for “Airport” (1970). Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1986. National Medal of Arts, 1988. First female EGOT achiever. Starred in “Anastasia,” “Herbie Rides Again.” Debuted in film in “Jean and the Calico Doll” (1910). Married to Charles MacArthur. Died: March 17, 1993, Nyack, New York, 92.
Bob Hope, 1964 — Honorary Academy Award (“In recognition of his unselfish services to the Motion Picture Industry”), 1940. Honorary Academy Award (“For his many services to the Academy”), 1944. Honorary Academy Award (“For his contribution to the laughter of the world, his service to the motion picture industry, and his devotion to the American premise”), 1952. Honorary Academy Award, (“For unique and distinguished service to our industry and the Academy”), 1965. Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 1959. Hosted Academy Awards record 19 times. Congressional Gold Medal, 1962. Medal of Freedom, 1969. National Medal of Arts, 1995. Starred in 7 “Road” films with Bing Crosby. Debuted in (feature) film in “The Big Broadcast of 1938” (1938) Died: July 27, 2003, Toluca Lake, 100.
Dorothy Buffum Chandler, 1965 — National Medal of Arts, 1985. Philanthropist, raised money for Los Angeles Music Center, which included the namesake Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, site of many Academy Awards ceremonies. Married to Norman Chandler. Died: July 6, 1997, Los Angeles, 96.
Danny Kaye, 1966 — Honorary Oscar (1955) (“For his unique talents, his service to the Academy, the motion picture industry, and the American people”), Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1982). Starred in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “Wonder Man.” Debuted in film in “Dime a Dance” (1937). Married to Sylvia Fine. Died: March 3, 1987, Los Angeles, 76.
Dina Merrill, 1977 — Heiress, starred in “The Player,” “BUtterfield 8,” “The Sundowners.” Debuted in film in “Desk Set” (1957). Married to Cliff Robertson. Died: May 22, 2017, East Hampton, New York, 93.
Cliff Robertson, 1977 — Best Actor Oscar winner for “Charly” (1968). Debuted in film in “Picnic” (1955). Starred in “Three Days of the Condor,” “Midway,” “Star 80,” “Spider-Man” (2002). Married to Dina Merrill. Died: Sept. 10, 2011, Stony Brook, New York, 88.
Patricia Neal, 1983 — Best Actress Oscar winner for “Hud” (1963), won Tony for Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play for “Another Part of the Forest” at the first Tony Awards in 1947. Debuted in film in “John Loves Mary” (1949), which co-starred Ronald Reagan. Starred in “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” “A Face in the Crowd,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Married to British author Roald Dahl. Died: Aug. 8, 2010, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, 84.
Kitty Carlisle Hart, 1984 — National Medal of Arts, 1991. Starred in “A Night at the Opera,” “Radio Days,” “Hollywood Canteen,” cameo in “Catch Me If You Can.” Debuted in film in “Murder at the Vanities” (1934). Panelist on “To Tell the Truth.” Married to Moss Hart. Died: April 17, 2007, Manhattan, 96.
Ted Turner, 2003 — Founder of CNN, founder of Turner Classic Movies. Merged Turner Broadcasting System with Time Warner in 1996. 1991 Time Man of the Year. Married to Jane Fonda. Died: May 6, 2026, Lamont, Fla., 87.
Ken Burns, 2024 — Documentarian of “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The Vietnam War.” Oscar nominee for Documentary Feature, “Brooklyn Bridge” (1981). Oscar nominee for Documentary Feature, “The Statue of Liberty” (1985). Married to Julie Deborah Brown.
(July 2026)
