NEW YORK — He’s a noted filmmaker, a teacher, an honorary Oscar winner, a crazy New York sports fan and now this: Spike Lee is the next grand marshal of the New York City Marathon.

“It’s gonna be a great day in my life,” Lee said. “All those runners, coming from all over the world to New York? It’s gonna be a fun time.”

Lee, 58, is known as one of his hometown’s great boosters, and so it’s apt that he becomes the first New Yorker to get the title of grand marshal.

He’s also only the third person in the race’s 45-year history to have it, after Czech running star Emil Zatopek in 1979 and Grete Waitz of Norway – winner of a record nine titles, who died in 2011 – in 2003.

“When we looked at having a grand marshal for this year’s TCS New York City Marathon, we envisioned someone the world would immediately recognize as a sports enthusiast and quintessential New Yorker, and Spike was the perfect fit,” said Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of the New York Road Runners.

Lee notes he’s a lifelong fan of the race, which takes place this year on Nov. 1.

An added bonus for Lee: The race goes through the Fort Greene neighborhood in Brooklyn, where he grew up, and where his film company’s office is now.

As part of his race duties, he’ll ride the 26.2-mile route in the grand marshal’s car.

–From news service reports