TORONTO -- Martin Short is returning to the Canadian Screen Awards -- this time as the recipient of its lifetime achievement award.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, which runs the annual bash, says it will honour the veteran stage and screen star for his "boundless" creativity, talent and exuberance.

Academy chairman Martin Katz notes that Short has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Canadian film and TV industry.

The Hamilton native hosted the screen awards in 2013 and 2014. The bash celebrates the best in homegrown film, television and digital media.

Short's off-the-wall characters include bizarre man-child Ed Grimley and clueless celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick.