Tom Cruise Earns First Oscar at Governors Awards/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Tom Cruise received his first Oscar — an honorary lifetime achievement award — at the 2025 Governors Awards, celebrating over four decades in film. Cruise joined fellow honorees Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton for a night of tributes. Though never a competitive Oscar winner, Cruise was finally recognized by the Academy for his career contributions.
Tom Cruise Governors Awards Tribute: Quick Looks
- Tom Cruise awarded his first Oscar via honorary lifetime achievement.
- Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton also received honors.
- Cruise emotional on stage, saying, “Making movies is who I am.”
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu presented Cruise’s award, calling it his “first” Oscar, not his last.
- Cruise praised for championing cinema, stunts, and theatrical experiences.
- Hollywood stars in attendance included DiCaprio, Grande, Johnson, and Elordi.
- Debbie Allen thanked her family, calling the award her “golden moment.”
- Wynn Thomas honored for decades of groundbreaking work in film design.
- Dolly Parton, absent due to scheduling, received the Humanitarian Award.
Deep Look: Tom Cruise Receives First Oscar With Lifetime Achievement Honor
LOS ANGELES — Tom Cruise, a defining figure of modern cinema and one of the most bankable stars in history, finally received an Oscar. On Sunday night at the Academy’s Governors Awards in Los Angeles, Cruise was honored with an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement — a long-awaited recognition of a career that has spanned over four decades.
Standing tall at age 63, Cruise accepted the golden statuette to a two-minute standing ovation at the Ray Dolby Ballroom.
“Making movies is not what I do, it’s who I am,” he said, holding back emotion during his acceptance speech. “In that theater we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together.”
A Career of Blockbusters, But No Competitive Oscar — Until Now
Though Cruise has earned four Academy Award nominations — three for acting (“Born on the Fourth of July,” “Jerry Maguire,” “Magnolia”) and one for producing (“Top Gun: Maverick”) — a competitive win had eluded him until this honorary recognition. A montage played before his speech highlighted his legacy, featuring clips from over 40 years of work, including “Taps” (1981), “Rain Man,” “Top Gun,” “Mission: Impossible,” and more.
Renowned director Alejandro González Iñárritu, currently working with Cruise on a 2026 film project, presented the award. He praised Cruise as someone who “is not finished” and hinted that this might be the first of more Oscars to come.
“This may be his first Oscar,” Iñárritu said, “but from what I’ve seen and experienced, this will not be the last.”
Cruise’s Devotion to Cinema
A committed supporter of the theatrical experience, Cruise has long opposed the shift to streaming-first releases.
“I will always do everything I can to help this art form,” he said onstage. “To support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful. Hopefully without too many more broken bones.”
The Governors Awards, not televised, served as an intimate setting for the moment. It was also a subtle beginning to the 2026 Oscars campaign season, with prominent names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande, and Sydney Sweeney in attendance.
Honoring Industry Giants: Allen, Thomas, Parton
Debbie Allen
The multi-talented Debbie Allen, 75, was honored for her decades of contributions to film, television, and the Oscars themselves — having choreographed seven Academy Award ceremonies.
Cynthia Erivo presented the award, calling Allen her artistic “aunty” and praising her as someone who “fought to bring all of us along with you.” Allen thanked her sister Phylicia Rashad, and husband Norm Nixon, saying, “It feels like me and Oscar got married. Sorry, Norman!”
Allen is known for roles in “Fame” and producing “Amistad,” and though she has never received an Oscar nomination, her influence has been deeply felt across the industry.
Wynn Thomas
Wynn Thomas was recognized as one of the first major Black production designers in Hollywood. His collaborations with Spike Lee — including “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X” — defined an era of culturally vital cinema.
Presented by Octavia Spencer, Thomas recalled growing up in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood and how storytelling became his way forward.
“That sissy grew up to work with some great filmmakers,” he said, referencing taunts from local gangs during his youth.
His other film credits include “A Beautiful Mind” and “Mars Attacks,” showcasing the breadth of his artistic vision.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, honoring her decades-long philanthropic efforts, especially in literacy and education. While she could not attend due to prior commitments, her representative confirmed her absence was unrelated to recent health concerns.
Her “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin presented the award, reminiscing about their iconic slumber parties and Parton’s authenticity. “She is the most authentic person I have ever known,” Tomlin said, even joking about Parton’s famously artificial look.
Parton, a two-time Oscar nominee for Best Original Song, was praised for using her platform to uplift workers, artists, and disadvantaged communities.
Cruise Salutes His Fellow Honorees
In a well-prepared and heartfelt segment of his speech, Cruise personally acknowledged each honoree. He told Wynn Thomas the exact date he first saw She’s Gotta Have It and quoted poetry by Vivian Ayers Allen, Debbie Allen’s mother. Of Parton, Cruise said she proves “compassion and creativity are not separate.”
Allen ended the evening with a light-hearted tribute to Cruise: “Honey, we loved when you slid out in those tighty-whiteys,” referencing his unforgettable scene in “Risky Business.”
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