Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, and Debbie Allen to Receive Honorary Oscars at 2025 Governors Awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the recipients of the 2025 Governors Awards, celebrating a group of iconic figures whose influence on film and humanitarian work spans decades.
Tom Cruise, whose career has defined blockbuster cinema, will receive an Honorary Oscar for his exceptional dedication to the theatrical experience and his boundary-pushing work as both actor and producer. Cruise’s commitment to practical stunts and cinematic storytelling, particularly through the Mission: Impossible series and Top Gun: Maverick, has helped shape modern action filmmaking.
Debbie Allen, a pioneer in choreography and television, will also be honored. With a career stretching nearly five decades, Allen’s impact on dance, acting, and producing — including her work choreographing multiple Oscars broadcasts — has made her a cornerstone in entertainment history.
Production designer Wynn Thomas, best known for his collaborations with Spike Lee and contributions to films like Hidden Figures and A Beautiful Mind, will be recognized for his visionary artistry.
Meanwhile, the beloved Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, honoring her decades of philanthropy, including her groundbreaking Imagination Library initiative promoting childhood literacy.
The ceremony takes place November 16 in Hollywood.
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