Comedian, actor, writer, and producer Steve Martin was honored in the 43rd American Film Institute as a recepient of the Life Achievement Award  in an evening gala at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in Los Angeles, California 

The AFI was founded in 1967, with the intention to guarantee that ,"great accomplishments of the past are recognized to the end that the masters of film may take their deserved place in history beside leaders in other arts."

Steve Martin was honored by the American Film Institute based on his career that contributed so much to the movie industry as well as touching the very heart of the American culture with his uncanny sense of humor.

As the curtains went up for the event to begin, Jack Black opened the ceremony with an interpretation of Martin's 1979 breakthrough film "I'm Picking Out a Thermos for You, " Martin's former co-stars from the film "The Jerk" also sang along.

Steve Martin was joined by Mel Brooks, Martin's fellow comedian, who presented the award. 

The night was filled with prominent people from the film industry. Among those who were honored as well were Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Barbara Streisand, and Dustin Hoffman. Martin was filled with awe to share the same kind of honor as those that were also recognized that night.

Steve martin said: "It just wasn't (something) I was thinking about or thought I had even qualified for." He was also keen to comment that, "Comedy has definitely changed, especially in terms of permissibility on television," he says. "I was watching Amy Schumer's show last night and I thought it was just fabulous and sharp. It's discussing things that we wouldn't even have thought of 30 years ago." 

Also present in the event were celebrities like Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock,Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Shirley MacLaine and Jane Fonda.