How is it that Tom Cruise and Dolly Parton have never won competitive Academy Awards?
Cruise should have, arguably, won for his extraordinary supporting work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia in 1999. And could have easily received nominations for Rain Man (a better, less showy performance than winner Dustin Hoffman), The Color of Money, A Few Good Men and Top Gun: Maverick.
And how did Parton’s “Travelin’ Thru’ lose to Three 6 Mafia for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp?” Not to mention the iconic “Nine to Five,” losing to “Fame!”
AMPAS has taken steps to rectify those two wrongs as well as honor two other artists deserving of recognition.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that its Board of Governors voted to present Academy Honorary Awards to Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise and Wynn Thomas, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Dolly Parton. The four Oscar® statuettes will be presented at the Academy’s 16th Governors Awards event on Sunday, November 16, 2025, 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,” said Academy President Janet Yang. “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.”
Allen’s indelible impact on screen spans nearly five decades as a choreographer, actor, and producer. She choreographed the Academy Awards® ceremony seven times, as well as films including Forget Paris, A Jazzman’s Blues and The Six Triple Eight. Her producing credits include Amistad and A Star for Rose. Allen made her mark as an actress with Fame, Ragtime and Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling.
One of the most recognized and highest-grossing actors of all time, Cruise has been a committed advocate of the theatrical experience, and he helped to usher the industry through a challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Showcasing a deep commitment to his craft – including performing all of his own stunts – his expansive body of work includes his Oscar-nominated acting roles in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia, and the Oscar-nominated Top Gun: Maverick, for which he earned a Best Picture nomination as producer. His other notable film credits include Risky Business, A Few Good Men, Interview with the Vampire, Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky and the Mission: Impossible film series.
Parton is an international icon whose remarkable career spans seven decades. A renowned musical artist and one of the most accomplished in history, with 49 studio albums and more than 100 million records sold worldwide, she has starred in such films as Nine to Five and Steel Magnolias. She has earned two Oscar nominations in the Original Song category for “Nine to Five” and for “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica. With this Governors Award, a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, Parton will be recognized for 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. 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.
Acclaimed production designer Thomas began his career working on Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, which would be the first of several collaborations between the two. Thomas’s film credits include Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and Da 5 Bloods. Other notable credits from his career include the Best Picture-winning A Beautiful Mind, as well as Cinderella Man and Hidden Figures, to name a few.
The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “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.”
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, also an Oscar statuette, 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.”
The 16th Governors Awards are presented in partnership with Rolex, the Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
