Famed Hollywood Car Creator George Barris to Receive Life Achievement Award from Friars of Beverly Hills to Benefit Iacocca Foundation

Celebrities and national VIPs to attend red carpet dinner gala Saturday June 17th. Famous Barris movie Cars and Hot Rods will be on display.

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) June 3, 2006 -- World-renowned Hollywood Car Kustomizer™, George Barris, will receive the Life Achievement Award from the Friars of Beverly Hills at a celebrity fundraiser dinner gala on Saturday June 17th. Barris has created fantastic and unique customized works of car art for film, television, and automotive enthusiasts for nearly sixty years. He designed the world famous TV Batmobile, and Munster Koach from the “Munster’s” TV show. George’s Hollywood Star Car Collection includes the Dukes of Hazzard “General Lee”, Starsky and Hutch’s Gran Torino, the James Dean Porsche Spyder, the DeLorean from “Back to the Future” films, the K.I.T.T. car from the TV show “Knightrider”, the Ford Explorers from the film “Jurassic Park”, and hundreds more. Chances are, if you’ve seen a cool car on television, in a movie, or have seen a star driving a hot customized car, George Barris designed it.

Since George’s career is legendary, the Friars of Beverly Hills is proud to present the Life Achievement Tribute in his honor on Saturday June 17, 2006. " I’m sure you will agree that George Barris is very deserving of this special recognition. This will be a Hollywood & Auto industry love fest aimed at George Barris at this star-studded, "Red CARpet" extravaganza! ", said Nancy Sinatra, a member of the Dinner Committee.

George Barris continues to work in the field he helped create back in the early 1950's. "K"ustomizing cars for motion picture, television, advertising and individuals has been his meaning of life. He has given so much to millions of fans around the world. "These fans show up every weekend at a Barris car show somewhere in the world. Fifty five years of creating magic on wheels and our dad hasn't slowed down one bit", said Brett and Joji Barris of Barris Kustom Industries.

For excellent PHOTO OPS, some of the Barris car creations will be on display in front of the Friars on the night of the gala including the famed Batmobile, the Munster Koach, the James Dean Porsche Spyder, The Knightrider talking Kitt car, the George Barris Jaguar Kustom convertible, new award winning concept cars and various Hot Rods and Merc Cruisers from the 1950's.

"George Barris has appeared on the nation's top news and media shows non-stop for 50 years including CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, American Movie Classics, Monster Garage-Discovery Channel, ABC Extreme Makeover, Speed Channel, VH-1, MTV, TV Land Awards, Nick & Jessica Variety Hour, Sharon Osbourne Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Jimmy Kimmel Show, E-Entertainment Television, and The Tonight Show. Special photo feature stories on George Barris have appeared in USA Today, New York Times, Vanity Fair Magazine, Wall Street Journal , People Magazine, Life Magazine, FHM Magazine, Robb Report and every car magazine on the planet. Many of these outlets will be joining us at this event on June 17th", said Edward Lozzi, the media coordinator for the event.

The Friars of Beverly Hills, producers of the George Barris Lifetime Tribute, is famed for honoring America's biggest stars in television and motion pictures. In this case, George Barris is recognized for the "star cars" he has produced and the joy, and thrills he has provided for millions of viewers over the decades.

" The Friars is honored to pay tribute to one of the most creative innovators of the entertainment community. George has touched more lives around the world with his unique gift and we will always be blessed to know him as a Friar and a friend", said Darren Schaeffer, CEO Friars of Beverly Hills.

George Barris celebrity and VIP friends on the Dinner Committee and expected to participate are: Mary Hart, Jay Leno, Gloria Allred, John Schneider and Catherine Bach (Dukes of Hazzard), Adam West, Sean Young (Bladerunner), Bo Derek, Nancy Sinatra, Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, Peter Fonda, Phyliss Diller, Max Baer, Jr. (Beverly Hillbillies), Casper Van Dien (James Dean: Live Fast Die Young), Bo Hopkins-(American Grafitti), David Hasselhoff (Knightridder), Lou Ferrigno, Mamie Van Doren (Hot Rod Girls), Linda Thompson (Elvis Ex), Stella Stevens (Matt Helm films), George Gray host of "Weakest Link", Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Pietra Thornton, Claudia Wells (Back to the Future), Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island) and many more coming on board over the next weeks until the event.

The George Barris Lifetime Tribute Award from The Friars of Beverly Hills

Saturday June 17th, 2006 - 5:00PM- Media Call-6:30 PM Arrivals

Friars of Beverly Hills

9900 Santa Monica Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Dinner tickets are available to the public for $500. per seat with attractive table/ad journal packages available to honor George Barris and to benefit the Iacocca Foundation. Lee Iacocca, former President of Ford and Chairman of Chrysler, lost his wife Mary to diabetes complications in 1983. Mr. Iacocca has been supporting diabetes research for more than 22 years, providing over $20 million to promising researchers. More information about The Iacocca Foundation is available at http://www.iacoccafoundation.org

For a Barris refresher and a fun time click on: http://www.barris.com

*Editors Note: For Publication: Tickets and Ad Journal Sales/Tributes to George Barris please contact Rebecca

at the Friars of Beverly Hills at 310-553-0850 x 324

Media is invited to attend and will have credentialed access to the stars and the cars on the red carpet and in strategic locations inside depending upon space.

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