Tom Cruise Wins Academy Honorary Award, Receiving His First Oscar Trophy After 44 Years

Tom Cruise (63), a representative actor of Hollywood, received the Academy Honorary Award, achieving the honor of holding his first Oscar trophy after 44 years since his film debut.

According to AP News and People magazine on the 17th (local time), Cruise was named the recipient of the Academy Honorary Award at the 16th Governors Awards held the previous day at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

This award, selected by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), is an esteemed honor given to individuals who have made outstanding achievements throughout their lifetime or made significant contributions to the advancement of film arts.

As he took the stage to receive the trophy, Cruise expressed, "Film has taken me around the world and helped me understand and respect various things," adding, "It is a medium that shows the commonalities of humanity and how alike we are."

He continued, "No matter where we come from, we laugh, feel, and share hope together in the theater. This is the power of the art form that is film," emphasizing, "Filmmaking is not just what I do, but who I am."

Cruise reflected that his passion for film began in childhood, stating, "I have had a desire to understand humanity, create characters, and convey stories from an early age."

According to U.S. media reports, when Cruise's name was called, industry figures in the audience gave him a standing ovation for about two minutes, and Cruise was seen with teary eyes while holding the golden honorary trophy during his speech.

Alejandro González Iñárritu, the director who presented the honorary award to Cruise, predicted, "This may be his first Oscar, but from what I have witnessed and experienced, this will not be the last."

In recent months, Cruise has been filming a new project scheduled for release next year with director Iñárritu, who recently won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture.

AP News analyzed, "Collaboration with Iñárritu suggests that Cruise, who has focused on blockbuster films in recent years, has not given up on challenging the Academy acting award in a traditional way."

Cruise has been nominated for the Academy acting award three times in the past and once for Best Picture as a producer, but he has not won. The nominated works include 1990's 〈Born on the Fourth of July〉 (Best Actor), 1997's 〈Jerry Maguire〉 (Best Actor), 2000's 〈Magnolia〉 (Best Supporting Actor), and 2023's 〈Top Gun: Maverick〉 (Best Picture).

This honorary award marks 44 years since he debuted in the film industry in 1981 and 35 years since he was first nominated for an Academy Award in 1990.

The Academy stated in June when announcing the honorary award recipient that Cruise has "inspired us all with dramatic experiences for the film production community and audiences, and remarkable dedication to the stunt community."