SAG-AFTRA Selects Mike Hodge for Inaugural President’s Award

SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris has unveiled the union’s first President’s Award for meritorious service and selected the late Mike Hodge as the recipient.

Hodge, who had been president of the New York branch, died on Sept. 9 at the age of 70. Carteris announced the award on Monday, a day after the concluion of the union’s biennial convention at the Sheraton Universal. The event is closed to the news media.

“Today I’m going to start a new SAG-AFTRA tradition: the presentation of the first President’s Award, which recognizes exceptional service to the union,” said Carteris.

“I am honored to present this award to Mike Hodge for his extraordinary service, dedication and commitment to the membership of SAG-AFTRA, and unionism in America,” she added. “It only feels right that it should go to someone who worked so hard for the union. He will be sorely missed but we continue to feel his presence in the indelible mark he made on this union and all who came in contact with him. From merger to negotiations to the resources he brought to New York members, we are all better off for having shared this journey with him.”

Hodge was a member of the SAG and AFTRA national boards since 2001, and was first elected New York president in 2009. He campaigned actively for the 2012 merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and was elected in 2013 and 2015 at the SAG-AFTRA National Convention to two-year terms as the union’s National Vice President representing New York.

Hodge’s acting included recurring work on “Law & Order” and “Fringe,” as well as film, commercial, and stage work, including four Broadway shows including “Fences” and “A Few Good Men.”

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