Hollywood legend Tom Cruise finally earned his first Oscar on Sunday, receiving an honorary statue at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to a standing ovation. The 63-year-old actor, celebrated for the Mission Impossible franchise, was applauded by peers including Colin Farrell, Emilio Estevez, and Steven Spielberg.
A four-time Oscar nominee, Cruise has never won a competitive Oscar. In his speech, he expressed his passion for cinema: “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 recognize film industry icons for their career achievements. Cruise’s award was presented by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who is working with him on 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. This man ate more chili than any Mexican.”
Other honorary Oscars were given to actor Debbie Allen (Fame), production designer Wynn Thomas, and country singer Dolly Parton, honored for her humanitarian contributions.