Sean Penn as Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk, the slain gay rights activist Sean Penn played in Milk is set for a major California honour - he's among the 13 heroes and celebrities who will be inducted into the state's Hall of Fame.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver put forward Harvey Milk as a 2009 hall candidate on Tuesday (25Aug09).
Ironically, Schwarzenegger was criticised last year (08) after he vetoed legislation to proclaim Milk's 22 May birthday an official date of significance.
Milk was among the first openly gay men elected to public office in the state. The former San Francisco supervisor was assassinated by a rival in 1978.
Schwarzenegger has also selected his bodybuilding mentor Joe Weider, actress Carol Burnett and beloved former U.S. TV sports pundit John Madden for the state's Hall of Fame honour.
Sean Penn's performance was critically acclaimed and he received a second Best Actor Oscar earlier this year.
Tagged in Sean Penn