UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumni Don Roy King, a 13-time Emmy Award-winning television production legend, and Jerrie Johnson, an award-winning actor and writer, will be honored with major annual awards from the Centre Film Festival.
King, who’s TV career spanned more than five decades, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Johnson will be honored with the Chandler Living Legacy Award. Both awards will be presented Nov. 16 when the weeklong festival concludes with its award ceremony at the Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg.
The festival will honor top films and present audience awards at the event as well. A full schedule of festival events can be found on its website.
Lifetime Achievement Award
King earned most of his Emmys during his tenure as director of “Saturday Night Live” for a decade and a half from 2007 to 2021. He also earned eight awards from the Directors Guild of America for his work on the show. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors those who have made exceptional contributions impacting the fields of film and television.
King earned his Penn State bachelor’s degree in 1969. His experience on live TV, from morning news programs to variety shows, made him one of the most prolific directors of live shows in the history of the medium — directing more hours of live network television than anyone before him. Along with “Saturday Night Live,” his mix of directing credits includes “The Mike Douglas Show,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Survivor,” “The Early Show,” “Criss Angel Mindfreak” and “The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.”
A consistently strong supporter of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and Penn State, King has been honored with both the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University and was named an Alumni Fellow by the Penn State Alumni Association.
In addition to his work on television, King is the creative director of Broadway Worldwide, which brings Broadway events to theaters and television. His enjoyment and passion for live theater were evident as he captured award-winning productions like “Memphis,” “Putting It Together” and “Smokey Joe’s Café,” among others.
King, a native of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, started his career in in State College at WPSX-TV in State College before moving to other TV stations in the state of Pennsylvania and, later, California. He said he initially hoped to be an actor, and his love of Broadway at least in part influenced his decision to live in New York City.
Chandler Living Legacy Award
Johnson, an award-winning actor, writer and creative force whose work lives at the intersection of artistry, activism and radical joy, has been selected for the Chandler Living Legacy Award.
The award is named for Curt and Stacie Chandler and honors an exemplary Pennsylvania native or Penn State alumnus impacting the fields of film and television. Curt Chandler, who died in 2022, was a Penn State faculty member and founding co-director of the festival that launched in 2019.
Johnson, best known for her breakout role as Tye in Amazon Prime’s “Harlem,” was selected as the Legacy Award winner for reshaping culture through truth-telling and imagination as their work continues to invite audiences into deeper connection with themselves and one another. Johnson has captivated audiences with performances that are at once audacious, vulnerable and deeply human. Johnson graduated from Penn State in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in theater and a minor in African American studies.
Johnson’s creative work continues to expand across mediums. The short film “Moonluck Wonton” is currently on the festival circuit and another short, “Elixir,” is in development. Johnson is also reimagining their acclaimed solo show for a 2026 tour. As an author, Johnson penned a juicing book that blends wellness and storytelling, reflecting her belief that healing and creativity go hand in hand.
Johnson earned her MFA at the American Conservatory Theater in 2019. She has brought her craft to Broadway-caliber stages, acclaimed television and independent film. Beyond performance, she is the founder of Earth Food Goddess Inc. and The AI Collective, platforms that merge storytelling, wellness and community building.