The Star-Studded Evening at The Plaza Also Supported The Paley Center’s Education Programs and Preservation of the Paley Archive
New York, NY, May 15, 2026 – Thursday evening, The Paley Center for Media celebrated global media icon and visionary leader Arnaud de Puyfontaine, innovative executive and creator economy trailblazer Robert Kyncl, and the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking television series Charlie’s Angels with stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith at The Paley Honors Spring Gala. The unforgettable evening took place at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York, and each honoree was presented with the Paley Center’s highest honor, The Paley Honors Award.
This momentous occasion took place during Paley’s 50th Anniversary year, which kicked off in November with the grand reopening of the newly renovated, state-of-the-art theaters and reimagined public spaces in The Paley Museum. A New York City institution, The Paley Museum continued to serve as a vibrant cultural hub and a welcoming gathering place for both New Yorkers and visitors from around the world.
The spectacular evening included a star-studded red carpet featuring the honorees and other special guests including presenters Frank A. Bennack Jr; multi-platinum and GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Josh Grobin; and acclaimed journalist Joan Lunden.
The evening spotlighted the contributions of each honoree with video highlights chronicling landmark achievements in their respective industries, as well as heartfelt tributes from esteemed colleagues and other respected media figures during a seated dinner.
Among the memorable moments:
- Maureen Reidy on The Paley Honors: “Fifty years of The Paley Center for Media—honoring the creators, leaders, and cultural moments that define our industry. And tonight, we are proud to continue that tradition with The Paley Honors, a celebration of excellence across media, business, and culture—and the extraordinary individuals and milestones that have brought us to this moment.”
- Frank A. Bennack, Jr on Arnaud de Puyfontaine: “Arnaud brings a perspective shaped by experience across multiple sectors of the media industry and across markets around the world. He has consistently operated at the intersection of creativity and scale, with a clear understanding of how media businesses evolve and adapt over time”
- Arnaud de Puyfontaine on receiving the Paley Honors: “Awards like this one — and institutions like the Paley Center — matter because they remind us why we do what we do. Not for the quarterly results. Not for the metrics. But for the stories. For the moments when a film changes someone’s perspective, when a news article holds power to account, when a campaign gives a brand a soul.”
- Presenter Josh Groban on Robert Kyncl: “I have been incredibly blessed to say that Warner has been behind me. They supported my art, they let me take chances and have given me freedom to do what I love – to sing songs that hopefully will touch people’s hearts and minds, and it starts at the top. Having a leader who understands this is an incredibly fortunate thing.”
- Robert Kyncl on The Paley Center for Media: “The work that this amazing organization does is vital to our culture to not only celebrate the power of media to connect, educate, and entertain, but to foster dialogue, preserve its history, and create trust. So, congratulations to the Paley Center on half a century of extraordinary contributions.
- Presenter Joan Lunden on the impact of Charlie’s Angels: “Charlie’s Angels wasn’t just a hit show. It was a cultural earthquake. At a time when television was still largely defining women in traditional supporting roles, these women stepped onto the screen as smart, fearless, glamorous, funny, and entirely in command of the action. Audiences had never seen anything quite like it — and they couldn’t get enough.”
- Jaclyn Smith on how Charlie’s Angels changed her life: “Charlie’s Angels came into my life in a way I never could have imagined. It wasn’t just a role; it was a turning point. It gave me friendships that changed my life, memories that shaped me, and a connection to audiences that has lasted decades.”
- Kate Jackson on receiving the Paley Honors: “Thank you Paley Center for honoring us tonight. I don’t think any of us imagined the impact that the show would have, not just in entertainment, but as a moment that helped shift the way women’s roles were on television.”
The proceeds from The Paley Honors helped support the Museum’s acclaimed educational programs and continued preservation initiatives within the Paley Archive. Often referred to as a national treasure, the Paley Archive remained the world’s largest publicly accessible collection of television and radio programs featuring more than 160,000 titles.
About The Paley Center for Media: Founded by media pioneer William S. Paley in 1975, and chaired by Frank A. Bennack, Jr. since 1991, The Paley Center for Media is the world’s leading nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to preserving media history and exploring media’s powerful shaping influence on culture and society. The Paley Center for Media, which owns the iconic Philip Johnson-designed Paley Museum, has proudly made its home in New York City for fifty years. The Paley Museum is where media, sports, gaming, and entertainment come together and has been recognized as New York City’s “Best Museum” and “Best Children’s Party Place” for three years in a row.
During the year, the Paley Center produces unmatched programs and respected educational classes for the public and industry. Paley’s best-in-class public programming offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive access to today’s most talked about names through memorable programs that are entertaining, educational, and captivate audiences across generations. On the industry side, programs educate, inform, and lead the conversation on the rapidly evolving media landscape. Paley’s unmatched convening power offers unparalleled access to top industry CEOs, world dignitaries, and global thought leaders. At the heart of the institution is the Paley Archive, the largest publicly accessible collection of its kind—with more than 160,000 programs. Often referred to as a national treasure, this invaluable resource is available at The Paley Museum in New York and at the Beverly Hills Public Library in California and plays a central role in Paley’s respected educational initiatives that serve K-12 educators and students throughout the year.
