Editor

Nominations for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2008 in five film and eight primetime television categories and for the SAG honors for film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood.

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg introduced Angela Bassett (“ER”) and Actor® recipient Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”), who announced the nominees for this year’s Actors®. SAG Awards® Committee member JoBeth Williams and Committee Vice Chair Daryl Anderson announced the stunt ensemble nominees.

The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. MT from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. Recipients of the stunt ensemble honors will be announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during the TNT.TV and TBS.COM live pre-show webcasts.

Of the top industry accolades presented to performers, only the Screen Actors Guild Awards are selected solely by actors’ peers. Two randomly selected panels–one for television and one for film–each comprised of 2,100 Guild members from across the United States, chose this year’s Actor and stunt honors nominees. Integrity Voting Systems, the Awards’ official teller mailed the nominations secret ballots were mailed on November 26. Voting was completed by noon Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.

Awards ballots will be mailed on Friday, Dec. 26, 2008. The entire active membership of the Guild across the country will vote on all categories. Votes must be received by Integrity Voting Systems by noon Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 where results will be tallied and sealed until they are opened by the presenters at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremonies on Jan. 25.

The Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala, benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, will be hosted for the 13th consecutive year by People Magazine and by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF).