Tom Cruise has won his first Oscar after 45 years in the film industry, receiving an honorary award at the 16th annual Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The 63-year-old actor, known for roles in Top Gun and Mission: Impossible, was honored alongside Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton, and Wynn Thomas at the Ray Dolby Ballroom.
Cruise, who had been nominated four times for competitive Oscars, received a minutes-long standing ovation from a crowd including Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jerry Bruckheimer. In his acceptance speech, he said, 'Making films is not what I do, it is who I am.'
The night before the ceremony, Cruise was spotted dancing energetically at an event hosted by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. A video shared on Instagram by actor and dancer Brandon O'Neal showed Cruise and Allen facing each other on the dance floor, both smiling and boogying.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in June that the four would be honored. Academy president Janet Yang said, '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.'
Honorary Oscars, now known as the Governors Awards, have been handed out since 1929 to recognize lifetime achievement and exceptional contributions to cinema. The event also served as the official kick-off to awards season.
