The Lincoln star and acclaimed thriller writer King will be honoured by U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C. on 10 September (15).

Actress Miriam Colon, theatre director and choreographer Ping Chong, and composer and singer Meredith Monk will also be among the honourees of the U.S. government's highest arts award, which is presented to those who are "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States".

Meanwhile, chef and author Alice Waters, writer Larry MCMurtry, novelist and philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, and author Jhumpa Lahiri will be presented with the National Humanities Medal.