US actor Tom Cruise received an honorary Oscar on Sunday evening, marking the first golden statue of his decades-long career. The 63-year-old actor was met with a standing ovation from Hollywood’s elite at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
To the sound of the “Mission: Impossible” theme, Cruise took the stage to applause from peers including Colin Farrell, Emilio Estevez, and Steven Spielberg, who directed him in Minority Report and War of the Worlds. Despite four previous Oscar nominations, Cruise had never won the award.
In his heartfelt speech, he spoke of his enduring love for cinema, describing the big screen as a space that sparks “a hunger for adventure, a hunger for knowledge, a hunger to understand humanity, to create characters, to tell a story, to see the world.”
The honorary Oscars, awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, celebrate cinema legends for their careers and contributions to the industry. Cruise’s award was presented by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who directed him in the upcoming film Judy.
“Writing a four-minute speech to celebrate Tom Cruise’s 45-year career is what is known, in this town, as a mission impossible,” Inarritu joked. “Tonight, we celebrate. We celebrate not just a filmography, we celebrate a lifetime of work.” He also quipped about Cruise’s daring nature, recalling, “This man ate more chili than any Mexican.”
In addition to Cruise, the Academy honored actor Debbie Allen (Fame), production designer Wynn Thomas, and country singer Dolly Parton, recognized for her humanitarian contributions.
The event underscored Cruise’s remarkable impact on global cinema and his enduring commitment to entertaining audiences around the world.
