Singer/actress/philanthropist Dolly Parton will receive the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Sunday, while actress/choreographer Debbie Allen, actor Tom Cruise and production designer Wynn Thomas will all receive honorary Oscars.
The honors will be presented during the Academy’s 16th Governors Awards, an invitation-only event at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement when the honorees were announced in June. “The Academy’s Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists. Debbie Allen is a trailblazing choreographer and actor, whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres. Tom Cruise’s incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community has inspired us all. Beloved performer Dolly Parton exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts. And production designer Wynn Thomas has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft.”
Parton, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and starred in films including “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias,” will receive the Hersholt Award in recognition of “her decades-long humanitarian efforts.”
“She has founded various charitable and philanthropic organizations, including the Dollywood Foundation, which was created in 1988 to inspire the children of East Tennessee — her home state — to achieve educational success,” according to a statement from the Academy. “Additionally, her literacy program, `Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,’ launched in 1995 in honor of her father, has provided children with 285 million books. It evolved into an international movement and remains the signature program of the Dollywood Foundation.”
The Hersholt Award is given “to an individual in the motion picture arts and sciences whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry by promoting human welfare and contributing to rectifying inequities.”
Allen, known for her performances in “Fame,” “Ragtime” and “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling,” has choreographed seven Academy Awards ceremonies, and also worked on films such as “Forget Paris” and “The Six Triple Eight.”
The Academy hailed Cruise as one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, and noted he helped “usher the industry through a challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic.” He received Oscar nominations for his work in the films “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Magnolia.”
Thomas began his production-design career on Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have it,” leading to future collaborations with Lee on “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X” and “Da 5 Bloods.” He also worked on the Oscar-winning film “A Beautiful Mind,” “Cinderella Man” and “Hidden Figures.”
Honorary Oscars are presented “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences in any discipline, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”