Writer-actor-producer Edwards — whose film credits include "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Pink Panther" movies," "Operation Petticoat" and "10" — will be honored for his "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement." "For more than 50 years, Edwards has had an extraordinary career writing, directing and producing mainly his own material," stated Academy President Frank Pierson in a release. "And that puts him in a select and very small group of outstanding film makers."

Never an Oscar winner, Edwards received his only Academy Award nomination for his 1982 screenplay of "Victor/Victoria" — starring his wife, Julie Andrews. The Honorary award will read: "In recognition of his writing, directing and producing an extraordinary body of work for the screen."

Other credits of Edwards include "Days of Wine and Roses," "A Shot in the Dark," "The Party," "S.O.B.," "Darling Lili," "Experiment in Terror," "Wild Rovers," "Mr. Cory" and "What Did You do in the War Daddy?," "Micki + Maude" and "The Great Race."

Past winner of Honorary Academy Awards include Louis B. Mayer, Gene Kelly, Harold Lloyd, Greta Garbo, Jerome Robbins, Chuck Jones and Peter O'Toole.

The 2003 Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 29, 2004 at the Kodak Theatre. The live Oscar telecast will air on ABC starting at 8 PM (ET). For more information, visit www.oscars.org.