Timothy Blake Honored as 2015 Ralph Morgan Award Recipient

Los Angeles (Feb. 6, 2015) – On Sunday, Feb. 8, the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local will recognize actor, filmmaker and moderator Timothy Blake with its 2015 Ralph Morgan Award, the local’s highest honor for a member. Ms. Blake will be honored during the annual Los Angeles Local Membership Meeting at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

Established in 1981 and named in honor of the first president of the Screen Actors Guild, the Ralph Morgan Award salutes SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local members and/or union staff for devotion to the cause of members, courage to fight for their rights and sacrifice of self for others.

Blake is a former SAG National Board vice president, former Screen Actors Guild Foundation Board recording secretary and has faithfully served as a trustee and executive officer of the SAG Pension & Health Board for almost three decades. Members also know her as co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA Film Society, a position she has held for more than 15 years.

For 10 years, she produced and directed the SAG Foundation Legacy Documentation Program, preserving oral and visual histories of our most celebrated actors including Jane Powell, Dennis Weaver and Jack Lemmon. She also contributed numerous articles to Screen Actor magazine, primarily focused on events and women’s issues.

Blake was also an AFTRA convention delegate multiple times and served two terms on the AFTRA Los Angeles Board. Blake began advocating for the union in 1980, when SAG and AFTRA were on strike. She and fellow members produced An Evening of Stars at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured Lily Tomlin and Robin Williams, and raised $500,000 for affected members. She was elected to the SAG National Board the same year.

Presenting the award will be Jenny O’Hara and Mimi Cozzens. O’Hara is the Los Angeles Local’s First Vice President, a National Board member and the L.A. Local Honors and Tributes (HATs) Committee co-chair. Cozzens is a Los Angeles Local Board and National Board member and the L.A. HATs Committee co-chair.

“Timothy Blake is the embodiment of a union member – she gives her time to the union, supports the cause and works tirelessly on behalf of its members,” said O’Hara. “We are delighted to honor her with the Ralph Morgan Award in recognition of her decades of outstanding service.”

Three-time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose) will speak about her close friendship with Blake and Los Angeles Local President Clyde Kusatsu will speak on Blake’s service to the union.

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