The Other Oliver Honored as Hero

When the Liberty Hill Foundation honors someone named Oliver, you can be certain he had nothing to do with either Ronald Reagan or the Contras. Although the Foundation is nonpolitical, “it’s definitely progressive,” explained co-founder Sarah Pillsbury. “We deal with people trying to take control of the institutions that control their lives.”

The Fund for a Free South Africa, the Committee in Solidarity With the People of El Salvador and Jobs With Peace are among the groups the foundation aids financially. “We’re more Oliver Stone than Oliver North,” said executive director Michele Prichard.

That being the case, it was Stone, the Oscar-winning director of such socially relevant films as “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Platoon,” who took home the foundation’s eighth-annual Upton Sinclair Award at the Beverly Hilton Wednesday night. The event raised $80,000. Also honored were foundation board member Jim Becker, tenant’s rights activist Claudia Moore and union leader Maria Elena Durazo.

“His films are a reflection of his politics,” said James Woods, who starred in Stone’s “Salvador.”

Hearing Stone give a speech on his social and political views were 600 guests including Rebecca De Mornay, Kyle MacLachlan, Ron Howard, Patti Davis, Stephen Stills and the star of the director’s current film-in-progress on the Doors’ Jim Morrison, Val Kilmer.

Entertainment was from the doo-wop singing Mighty Echoes, film clips from Stone’s films were introduced by Michael Douglas, and the award was presented by Ron Kovic, upon whose autobiography “Born on the Fourth of July” was based.

The emcee was Catherine Coulsen, whose role as the eccentric Log Lady on “Twin Peaks” has brought her a sudden, cult-fame status. The previous year, she had been the photographer taking pictures of guests at the dinner.

“I never thought that in my mid-40s I’d have this happen,” said Coulsen. “It’s fun and I hope ABC picks up the series for next year. But I’m not quitting my day job.”

The log “is going to reveal some big secrets next week,” she added.