THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND ANNOUNCES 2026 GALA HONOREES
Press Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Kendall Edwards / Bailey Everett
rick@omdkc.com / kendall@omdkc.com / bailey@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
TO HONOR
THE CAST FROM HBO ORIGINAL THE GILDED AGE
DARYL ROTH
AND
YOSHIKI
AT 2026 GALA
ON MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026
AT CIPRIANI 42ND STREET
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
New York, NY (April 15, 2026) – The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, announced today that it will host its Annual Gala on Monday, June 1, 2026 in New York City. The evening will celebrate The Cast from HBO Original The Gilded Age; Tony Award-winning Producer Daryl Roth; and Global Icon and Legendary Composer-Philanthropist Yoshiki as they receive the Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor.
For photos of the honorees, click here.
The Annual Gala, which honors entertainment professionals working in film, television, theater, music and dance, will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street) with 6 pm ET cocktails, followed by a 7 pm ET dinner and tribute. The evening will include special performances and presentations as guests come together to support the Fund’s programs that foster stability and resiliency and provide a safety net over the lifespan of members of the performing arts and entertainment industry nationwide.
Christopher Ketner and Hunter Regian’s new production company, Origin Story Productions, will serve as Executive Producers for the event.
“We are so thrilled to honor the incredible cast from HBO Original The Gilded Age, Daryl Roth and Yoshiki with this year’s Medal of Honor,” stated Fund Chair of the Board, Annette Bening. “We are deeply grateful for their contributions to the entertainment industry–each of them titans in their own right-and look forward to recognizing them in June as we also celebrate the ongoing work of the Fund.”
Tickets to the benefit begin at $1,750 with tables available beginning at $15,000. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact 212.627.1000 or entertainmentcommunity@resevt.com. Learn more and purchase tickets at entertainmentcommunity.org/Gala2026.
The Entertainment Community Fund Medal of Honor was inaugurated on May 9, 1910 when it was first presented to President William Howard Taft. The award was revived in 1958, and since 1992, when Shubert Organization President Bernard B. Jacobs was recognized, the award has been presented at an annual fundraising gala. Dozens of leaders have been recognized with this high honor given to individuals and organizations that enrich the entertainment community. To view past honorees, visit
entertainmentcommunity.org/honorees.
ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, is a national human services organization that addresses the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment with services focused on health and wellness, career and life, and housing. Since 1882, the Fund has sought to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy. Learn more at entertainmentcommunity.org.
ABOUT DARYL ROTH
Daryl Roth is a visionary producer and leading innovator in the American theater with a career spanning over three decades, winning 13 Tony Awards. Credited with shepherding some of the most thought-provoking and inspirational productions, she is honored to hold the singular distinction of producing 7 Pulitzer Prize-winning plays: Anna in the Tropics, August: Osage County, Clybourne Park, How I Learned to Drive, Proof, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women and Wit.
Daryl is the force behind the internationally acclaimed, Tony and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. Highlights from more than 133 shows both on and Off-Broadway include Paula Vogel’s Indecent, Gloria: A Life, about the iconic Gloria Steinem and most recently, Bess Wohl’s Liberation. Daryl was at the forefront of creating philanthropic partnerships with her productions, notably between the Entertainment Community Fund and Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart.
Among her many endeavours to encourage the next generation of artists, the Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award was initiated 30 years ago and annually supports playwrights, directors and designers. The Daryl Roth Theatre, the landmark venue on Union Square, opened in 1996 with the iconic De La Guarda and remains a home for acclaimed Off-Broadway productions. Daryl is a Trustee Emeritus of Lincoln Center Theatre and a past Trustee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is proud to have been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. DarylRothProductions.com
ABOUT HBO ORIGINAL THE GILDED AGE
From creator Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), HBO’s The Gilded Age has achieved praise for its ensemble cast, costume design and Emmy®-winning production design. This sprawling period drama chronicles the conflict between old and new money in New York City’s glittering Gilded Age, an era in America marked by change and innovation. The series follows the collision of ambition and scandal as the characters forge new paths and seize opportunities.
ABOUT YOSHIKI
Yoshiki is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers in Japanese history and Japan’s biggest rock star. A classically trained pianist, rock drummer and leader of X Japan, he has sold a combined 50 million albums and singles worldwide. His unparalleled stage presence has led him to sell out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record-breaking 18 times, a feat that remains a benchmark of musical success. Recognized as a global cultural force, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME in 2025 and became the first Japanese artist to be immortalized with his handprints and footprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Beyond his rock legacy, Yoshiki’s classical artistry has graced the world’s most elite stages. He has headlined multiple sold-out performances at New York City’s Carnegie Hall and is currently preparing for his highly anticipated return to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Throughout this storied career, Yoshiki has remained committed to humanity; through Yoshiki Foundation America, he has provided substantial support to global causes, including disaster relief and mental health awareness. He continues to define the pinnacle of artistic excellence and profound global generosity.
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