ROBERT DOWNEY JR - DOWNEY JR RECEIVES HASTY PUDDING AWARD DRESSED AS CHAPLIN

Actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR was made to re-enact his role as CHARLIE CHAPLIN before he was crowned HASTY PUDDING's Man of the Year yesterday (19FEB04).

Two HARVARD UNIVERSITY male students in drag joined the OSCAR-nominated CHAPLIN star on stage where he had to prove he loved one more than the other using Chaplin's famous LITTLE TRAMP persona.

Downey Jr jokes, "(I am) doubly blessed in that not only am I the man of the year, but this is the first time that a convicted felon has received this award."

Actress SANDRA BULLOCK received the Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award last week (ends13FEB04).

The awards are given to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment" by HASTY PUDDING THEATRICALS, America's oldest undergraduate drama troupe.

Last year's (04) Hasty Pudding Award recipients were actress ANJELICA HUSTON and director MARTIN SCORSESE.