Actor Eugene Levy, shown in October 2009, is to receive the ACTRA Award of Excellence.Actor Eugene Levy, shown in October 2009, is to receive the ACTRA Award of Excellence. (Dan Steinberg/Canadian Press)

ACTRA plans to honour comedian Eugene Levy with its annual Award of Excellence.

The star of Best in Show and Taking Woodstock will receive the award Jan. 21 at the Canadian residence of David Fransen, Canada's consul general in Los Angeles.

The award recognizes both his career achievements and contribution to the Canadian film and TV industry.

Hamilton, Ont.-born Levy has starred in more than 40 films in a career that began in the 1970s at Second City in Toronto.

He starred on the SCTV television series before going on to make movies such as Armed and Dangerous and American Pie. Levy is part of the ensemble cast of several Christopher Guest films, such as A Mighty Wind.

Levy chairs Telefilm Canada's Features Comedy Lab, which aims to get more Canadian comedy to the screen, and has participated in many charities and fundraising efforts.

He is a member of the Order of Canada and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.