Tom Cruise, despite all the dangerous action scenes he has delivered as Ethan Hunt in the “Mission: Impossible” film series, has not yet collected an Oscar for any of those eight movies.
His performance as Jerry Maguire in 1996 got him nominated for best actor by the Academy, and he also got recognition in 2023 as a producer when “Top Gun: Maverick” was nominated for best motion picture. Until now, none of his efforts have resulted in holding the golden Oscar trophy.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed on Tuesday that Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar in November during the Governors Awards. He will receive this award together with production designer Wynn Thomas and actress-choreographer Debbie Allen.
Singer and actress Dolly Parton will be receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award this year, in recognition of her charitable activities.
Academy Recognizes Lifelong Contributions to Film
The honorary Oscars, which are now in their 16th year, are handed out by the board of governors to people who have shown clear excellence across their careers or brought great value to the progress of the film industry.
These awards are separate from the regular Oscars, which will take place in March, and the honorary event is not aired on television.
Academy president Janet Yang stated that this year’s honorees are “individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact.”
Cruise and Allen Among Industry Legends Recognized
Back in 1990, Cruise earned his first Oscar nomination for acting as Ron Kovic, a Vietnam War veteran, in “Born on the Fourth of July.” Since then, he’s had three more nominations, coming from his roles in “Jerry Maguire,” “Magnolia,” and as a producer for “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Debbie Allen, who is now 75 years old, has never been nominated for an Oscar. Still, she has received wide praise for her work in several roles, choreographer, actress, and producer, in films such as “Ragtime,” “Fame,” “Forget Paris,” and “Amistad.” She has also choreographed the Oscars ceremony on seven different occasions.
Thomas, who is best known for his longtime creative work with director Spike Lee, including on “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Do the Right Thing,” has also never been nominated by the Academy. He was also part of the team behind “A Beautiful Mind,” which won the Oscar for best picture in 2002.
Their Careers Made A Mark Across Decades
According to the Academy, Cruise has always stood firmly in support of theatrical releases and was important in helping cinema push through the period of the coronavirus outbreak.
Allen was selected for her strong presence in film over nearly fifty years, while Thomas received appreciation for his unique creative approach and design skills.
Dolly Parton Honored For Lifelong Service To Others
The Hersholt Humanitarian Award is meant for a person working in the industry who has helped improve the lives of others and has taken active steps to address unfair treatment or conditions.
Dolly Parton, who was born in Tennessee, created the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to help children in her home region get better access to education.
Then in 1995, she launched a book distribution program, “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” in honor of her father. That program has now given out nearly 285 million books to children across the globe.
Throughout her music career, Parton has taken home 11 Grammy Awards along with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy. Her song “Nine to Five” was nominated for an Oscar for best original song, and in 2006 she was again nominated for “Travelin’ Thru,” the song from the film “Transamerica.”
The 2025 edition of the Governors Awards will take place on November 16 at Ovation Hollywood. Past honorees at this ceremony have included posthumous recognition for Quincy Jones, as well as lifetime honors given to Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett.
