Actress Bacall among early Oscar honorees

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Anjelica Huston said fellow film star Lauren Bacall deserved to be among those honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Houston praised Bacall, 85, while presenting the "To Have and To Have Not" star with an honorary award at Saturday's 2009 Governors Awards, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"Lauren Bacall defines what it means to be an actress," Huston said. "She is a woman of great charisma and beauty but one not to be trifled with."

Also honored Saturday by the academy were cinematographer Gordon Willis, former studio executive John Calley and director Roger Corman.

"Needless to say, I'm delighted to accept this Oscar," Corman, 83, said after accepting his award.

The Times said an illness prevented Calley, 79, from accepting his Irving G. Thalberg Award, but director Steven Spielberg was among those on hand to accept the honor on his behalf.

"We are privileged to accept this award that he is so deserving of," Spielberg said.