Tom Cruise, 63, long regarded as one of Hollywood’s most enduring marquee stars, finally held an Oscar on a major Academy stage on Sunday night as he accepted an honorary award recognizing more than four decades at the top of the film industry. “Making movies is not what I do, it’s who I am,” he said, voice steady but eyes occasionally glistening as he clutched the statuette during the Governors Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, reports the Baltimore Chronicle.
Cruise received a standing ovation that lasted more than two minutes before he spoke. He told the room that cinema remains a collective experience — “a place where we laugh together, feel together, hope together.” His award was part of a slate of honors that also included production designer Wynn Thomas, choreographer and actor Debbie Allen, and an absent Dolly Parton, who was recognized for her lifelong philanthropic work.
Although Cruise has been nominated four times — for “Born on the Fourth of July” (1989), “Jerry Maguire” (1996), “Magnolia” (1999) and as producer of “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) — he has never won a competitive Oscar. Before he took the stage, the audience watched an extensive montage spanning his career from early roles in the 1981 drama “Taps” to his latest entry in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, featuring many of the high-risk stunts he famously performs himself.
The untelevised nature of the Governors Awards seemed fitting for Cruise, a staunch defender of theatrical moviegoing and one of the most vocal opponents of streaming’s dominance. “I will always do everything I can to help this art form,” he said, pledging to support new filmmakers while jokingly hoping that the work ahead would bring “not too many more broken bones.”
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who presented the award, noted their ongoing collaboration on a London-based film slated for release in 2026. He suggested that Cruise’s pursuit of a traditional Academy Award is far from over. “This may be his first Oscar,” Iñárritu said, “but from what I have seen and experienced, it will not be his last.”
The star-studded guest list underscored the subtle start of next year’s Oscar campaign season. Among the attendees were Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Sydney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande and Jacob Elordi, who filled the banquet tables as potential contenders.
Debbie Allen, 75, who has choreographed seven Oscar ceremonies — four of which earned Emmy nominations — received a career honor despite never having been nominated for an Academy Award herself. Her wide-ranging career includes acting roles in “Ragtime” and “Fame,” and producing Steven Spielberg’s drama “Amistad,” with the director embracing her warmly as she approached the stage. Fighting back tears, Allen called the tribute “a glorious golden moment in the sun.”
Presenter Cynthia Erivo, who referred to Allen as an “aunty,” praised her as a figure who uplifted Black artists across generations. Allen acknowledged her sister Phylicia Rashad and her husband of 40 years, former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers star Norm Nixon. Glancing at her statuette, she joked that it felt as if she and Oscar had “just gotten married,” adding, “Sorry, Norman!”
Wynn Thomas, honored for his pioneering work as one of the first prominent Black production designers and art directors in Hollywood, reflected on his journey from growing up in the slums of Philadelphia to shaping the look of influential films. His credits include Ron Howard’s “A Beautiful Mind,” Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks,” and decades of collaborations with Spike Lee, such as “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” and “Da 5 Bloods.” Accepting the award from Octavia Spencer, Thomas said local gangs once mocked him as “sissy,” adding, “but that sissy grew up to work with some great filmmakers.”
Dolly Parton, recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, was absent due to a long-scheduled commitment unrelated to recent health concerns. Her philanthropic impact spans literacy, education, and community support programs. Parton has twice been nominated for best original song, including for “9 to 5,” which also starred Lily Tomlin and remains a cultural anthem highlighting worker struggles. Presenting the award, Tomlin turned teleprompter mishaps into comedic improvisation and reminisced about the informal slumber parties she and Jane Fonda shared with Parton during film shoots. She described Parton as outwardly full of “artifice,” yet “the most authentic person I have ever known.”
In his characteristically meticulous fashion, Cruise paid personal tribute to each honoree, recalling the exact date and theater where he first watched Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It.” He praised Parton for embodying “compassion and creativity,” and honored Allen by quoting her mother, poet Vivian Ayers Allen. Allen, closing the evening with a laugh, recalled Cruise’s famous underwear dance in “Risky Business,” telling him: “Honey, we loved when you slid out in those tighty-whiteys.”
Earlier we wrote that Callum Turner favorite to play next James Bond in 2027 according to UK betting markets.
