Overview
- Cruise accepted the lifetime honor in Los Angeles and delivered an emotional speech, saying filmmaking is not just his job but who he is.
- Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu presented the statuette, noting the challenge of summing up Cruise’s 45-year career.
- Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas were also honored, and Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in a video message after skipping the event for health reasons.
- The Governors Awards are selected by the Academy’s board, presented outside the regular Oscar competition, and have been held separately from the main telecast since 2009.
- Cruise remains without a competitive Oscar despite four prior nominations, as peers and stars including Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Colin Farrell attended.