Hollywood will shine a little brighter this fall as four legendary figures in film and entertainment, Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton, are set to be honored at the 16th annual Governors Awards, taking place on November 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the event will see Cruise, Allen, and Thomas receive Honorary Awards, while Parton will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades of philanthropy.
“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 in a statement. “The Academy’s Board of Governors is honored to recognize these brilliant artists.”
A powerhouse performer and producer, Tom Cruise is being recognized for his relentless dedication to cinema and his role in reviving the theatrical experience post-pandemic. His blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick helped rejuvenate the global box office and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Picture as a producer. With a career spanning a decade, his accolades include three acting Oscar nominations and iconic roles in Risky Business, Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men, and the Mission: Impossible series.
Debbie Allen, whose influence spans choreography, acting, directing, and producing, has shaped American performing arts for nearly 50 years. She’s choreographed the Oscars seven times and contributed to projects such as Amistad, A Jazzman’s Blues, and Fame. Allen continues to inspire generations through her dedication to diversity and excellence in the arts.
Trailblazing production designer Wynn Thomas will also be honored for his groundbreaking work and artistic contributions to American cinema. Known for his long-standing collaboration with Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Da 5 Bloods), Thomas has also worked on A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, and Hidden Figures, helping to visually define some of the most important films of the last four decades.
Dolly Parton, the beloved singer, songwriter, and actor, will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her unwavering commitment to literacy, education, and disaster relief. Through her Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library program, Parton has distributed more than 285 million books to children around the world. With two Oscar nominations for original songs and an iconic screen presence in films like Nine to Five and Steel Magnolias, her impact reaches far beyond entertainment.
The Honorary Award, given for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement” and service to the Academy, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award are among the most prestigious honors in the film industry. Last year’s recipients included music legend Quincy Jones (posthumously), casting director Juliet Taylor, and Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis.
This year’s event is presented in partnership with Rolex, the exclusive watch sponsor of the Academy.
