Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon are among 15 inducted into N.J. Hall of Fame (original) (raw)

NEWARK -- It was a night to celebrate New Jersey.

Actors Jack Nicholson and Susan Sarandon, author Judy Blume and singer Frankie Valli were among 15 Garden State luminaries inducted into the third annual New Jersey Hall of Fame.

The event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark was star-studded from start to finish. In addition to the inductees, many famous New Jerseyans served as award presenters, including Buzz Aldrin, Joe Pesci and Bruce Springsteen, who honored inductee Danny DeVito.

Previous coverage:

• Philip Roth, Jack Nicholson among those to be inducted into N.J. Hall of Fame

• Count Basie, Jack Nicholson, Les Paul make New Jersey Hall of Fame

• Alice Paul inducted into NJ hall of fame alongside historic nemesis Woodrow Wilson

• Count Basie, Jack Nicholson, Les Paul make New Jersey Hall of Fame

"He has Jersey attitude pouring out of him, even when he is standing still," Springsteen said of DeVito. His "persona exemplifies what it means to be one of us."

Then The Boss and DeVito belted out of a rendition of "Glory Days," which got the crowd -- many capturing the moment on their cell phones -- to its feet.

Nicholson, a devout Los Angeles Lakers fan, said he was skipping Sunday’s playoff game to be in Newark because "I’m being honored."

On stage the Neptune native talked about his love for his home state and the Shore, which for him ran "from Red Bank all the way down to Point Pleasant."

"I could sing the praises of New Jersey all night," Nicholson said.

Sarandon, an Edison High School alumna, said she cherishes her childhood in the state. "I’m the oldest of nine. We were going camping, we grew our own vegetables, we went down to the Shore. I have good memories of New Jersey."

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerBruce Springsteen sings with Danny DeVito after The Boss inducted DeVito into the NJ Hall of Fame.

The actress, who has never been shy to talk about politics, also alluded to the student protests last week over the state education budget cuts, saying "Newark had the largest nonviolent demonstration of all the areas."

Noting that New Jersey was the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights and does not have the death penalty, Sarandon added: "We’ve legalized marijuana recently. Medical marijuana, but the rest will come."

DeVito, who arrived with wife Rhea Perlman, described the award as a great honor as he walked down the red carpet earlier in the evening.

"I’ve always felt really close to the Garden State," said DeVito, who grew up in Neptune. "I related pretty much everything I do to my roots."

Established in 2005 by an act of the state Legislature, the nonprofit New Jersey Hall of Fame honors Garden State natives and residents who have made significant contributions to their home state.

"We need to celebrate the things about New Jersey that are great. Tonight is the time to do just that," Gov. Chris Christie said. The inductees, Christie added, "represent everything that’s great about this state."

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerSusan Sarandon dances with Buzz Aldrin at the end of the program.

This year’s inductees also include architect and designer Michael Graves and Olympic athlete Carl Lewis. Novelist Philip Roth, a Newark native, was also inducted but did not attend the ceremony.

Posthumous awards went to jazz great Count Basie, suffragist Alice Paul, baseball Hall of Famer Larry Doby, musician Les Paul, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, astronaut Wally Schirra and President Woodrow Wilson.

The Hall of Fame also presented two Unsung Hero Awards to Jersey City Police Detective Mark DiNardo who was killed in a shootout during an attempted robbery and New Brunswick Deputy Fire Chief Jimmy D’heron, who died after rushing into a burning building to save 15 residents. Their families accepted the awards.

Candidates for the Hall of Fame were nominated by experts in five categories -- historical, general, arts and entertainment, sports and enterprise. The selection process also includes public voting at the Hall of Fame website: njhalloffame.org.

Plans are underway for regional New Jersey Hall of Fame exhibits and a "mobile museum" that can visit schools statewide, according to the nonprofit organization. A temporary exhibit is expected to open in Asbury Park this summer.

The 28 past honorees have included Springsteen, Yogi Berra, Toni Morrison, Malcolm Forbes and Harriet Tubman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerJack Nicholson acknowledges the crowd as he is introduced. The New Jersey Hall of Fame honored those Jerseyans who have made significant contributions to the state during a ceremony at the NJPAC today.

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