Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton and more to receive honorary Oscars at Governors Awards 2025

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas will receive honorary Oscars at the 2025 Governors Awards while Dolly Parton will get the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

The ceremony will be held on November 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, marking the 16th annual Governors Awards event.

Academy president Janet Yang praised the four recipients for their profound and lasting contributions to cinema and humanitarian causes.

She commended Debbie Allen as a groundbreaking choreographer and actor whose work spans decades and genres. Tom Cruise was recognised for his dedication to filmmaking, theatrical experiences and the stunt community. Dolly Parton was celebrated for her charitable initiatives, while Wynn Thomas was lauded for his visionary production design in films such as She’s Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and Da 5 Bloods, alongside titles like A Beautiful Mind and Hidden Figures.

The Honorary Oscars acknowledge extraordinary lifetime achievement in motion picture arts, while the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award honours contributions to human welfare.

Although the Governors Awards are not televised, winners are typically acknowledged at the main Oscars ceremony, which will take place on March 16, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre.