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Overview
- Alejandro González Iñárritu presented the tribute, joking that summing up Cruise’s 45 years on screen was a “mission impossible.”
- Cruise delivered an emotional speech about discovering a love of movies at a young age and thanked peers for the recognition.
- Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and accepted by video due to health reasons.
- Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas were also honored at the 16th honorary Oscars ceremony in Hollywood.
- The gala doubled as an early awards-season showcase ahead of the March 2026 Oscars, drawing industry heavyweights including Steven Spielberg, Colin Farrell, Emilio Estevez and studio leaders.