Hollywood star Tom Cruise, 63, received the Academy Honorary Award. It is his first Oscar trophy in 44 years as an actor.
According to the Associated Press and People magazine on the 17th (local time), Cruise received the Academy Honorary Award at the 16th Governors Awards held the previous night at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, Los Angeles (LA).
The Academy Honorary Award, selected by the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), is given to individuals who have built outstanding achievements over a lifetime or have made special contributions to the art of film.
Cruise said, "Movies take me around the world, help me understand and respect other things, and show our shared humanity and how alike we are in so many ways."
He continued, "Wherever we come from, inside the theater we laugh together, feel together, and hope together. That is the power of this art form," adding, "That is why movies matter, and filmmaking is not what I do, it is who I am."
He said his love for movies began when he was very young, noting, "A longing arose to understand humans, create characters, tell stories, and see the world."
U.S. media reported that when Cruise's name was called at the ceremony, fellow filmmakers in the audience gave a standing ovation for about two minutes, and Cruise, clutching the golden honorary trophy tightly as he spoke, was moved to tears.
In the past, Cruise was nominated three times for acting Oscars and once as a producer for best picture, but he never won.
The nominated works were "Born on the Fourth of July" in 1990 (best actor nominee), "Jerry Maguire" in 1997 (best actor nominee), "Magnolia" in 2000 (best supporting actor nominee), and "Top Gun: Maverick" in 2023 (best picture nominee).
This honorary award comes 44 years after his debut in the film industry in 1981 and 35 years after his first Academy nomination in 1990.
The Academy, announcing the honorary award recipients in June, assessed Cruise as having "inspired us all with an extraordinary dedication to the filmmaking community, the dramatic experience for audiences, and the stunt community."