Award-winning actor and producer Danny DeVito will receive the Critics' Choice Television Icon Award when the award is presented early next week, the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced on Thursday.


U.S. actor Danny Devito arrives on stage to present actor Michael J. Fox the international lifetime achievement award during the 46th 'Goldene Kamera' (Golden Camera) awards ceremony at the Ullstein Auditorium in Berlin, February 5, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
DeVito, who rose to fame for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series "Taxi" which was aired in the late 1970s, will be the first recipient of the inaugural critics award presented by the new offshoot of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. FX sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Rob McElhenney will present the award.


DeVito, 66, won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his act in "Taxi. " He was also nominated four times for the role.

The ceremony will be held on June 20 at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event will be hosted by actress Cat Deeley.


According to BTJA, aside from Rob McElhenney, Connie Britton, Elijah Wood, Kevin Connolly and Wilmer Valderrama are among the presenters.


Consisting of 62 journalists who regularly cover television for TV viewers, radio listeners and online audiences, the newly launched BTJA will present the awards to 15 TV shows and celebrities in five categories including comedy, drama, reality and talk show. The eligible programs should be aired between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011.


ABC leads the pack with 16 nominations, with its hit comedy " Modern Family" being the most nominated series --with six, followed closely by NBC with 12. AMC and FX led nominations for cable networks, with nine each.


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