1 week Ago By Glenn Garner
More than 40 years later, Ralph Macchio paid back Francis Ford Coppola the best way he knew how at the director’s AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute. During Saturday’s gala at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the actor recalled an important lesson the filmmaker taught him on the set of 1983’s The Outsiders , repaying him with a “symbol of gratitude” for giving him his breakout role. “I remember early on, to help me understand my character better, Francis gave me $5 and told me to try to get through the day on just that,” recounted as he reunited with co-star C.
Thomas Howell . “You know, I’ve often thought how I could ever repay him for all that he’s meant to me. And the truth is, I never will.
But as a symbol of my gratitude, look under the centerpiece on the table, Francis. Go ahead, look under the centerpiece. There’s a five dollar bill.
Watch on Deadline Related Stories Francis Ford Coppola Felt Like He Returned “To The Old Neighborhood” In AFI Life Achievement Tribute Speech — Watch AFI Life Achievement Award Red Carpet: Elle Fanning, Ron Howard, George Lucas, Spike Lee & More Honor Francis Ford Coppola After Coppola jokingly handed the bill over to George Lucas , Macchio continued, “Finally got that five dollars back. I put it there not to repay the debt, but truly as a symbol of lessons I learned from you over 40 years ago.” Filmmaking peers like Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee and more were also on hand to celebrate Coppola, as well as collaborators like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Elle Fanning and Diane Lane.
(WATCH) Ralph Macchio and C. Thomas Howell recall filming Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Outsiders’ during the director’s AFI Lifetime Achievement Award presentation pic.twitter.
com/RSHzn4Vx8j The Life Achievement Award is AFI’s highest esteem for a career in film. Coppola’s predecessors include Nicole Kidman, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Diane Keaton and John Williams. Coppola’s The Godfather , The Godfather Part II and Apocalypse Now are ranked among history’s greatest films in AFI’s 100 Years.
..100 Movies list.
A six-time Academy Award winner, his other iconic feature credits, as writer, director and/or producer, include Patton , American Graffiti , The Conversation , The Outsiders and Bram Stoker’s Dracula , to name just a few. The AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute returns this year to TNT, with encore presentations to follow on Turner Classic Movies..
