Glenn Close, a celebrated actress with eight competitive Oscar nominations but no wins, will receive an honorary Academy Award at the upcoming Governors Awards ceremony. Ridley Scott, the acclaimed director behind films such as "Alien," "Blade Runner," and "Gladiator," will also be honored with an honorary Oscar.
The Governors Awards, held annually, recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to film. This year's ceremony will also honor Disney animator Floyd Norman and producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, who will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
Close, 79, has been nominated for eight Oscars throughout her five-decade career, tying her with Peter O'Toole for the most nominations by an actor without a win. Her nominations span from "The World According to Garp" in 1983 to "Hillbilly Elegy" in 2020. Despite her lack of an Oscar win, Close has achieved significant recognition in other mediums, earning three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes.
Ridley Scott, 88, has garnered four Oscar nominations, including best director nods for "Thelma & Louise" and "Black Hawk Down." He will accept his honorary award via recorded video as he is not attending the ceremony. Scott's extensive filmography has blended commercial success with critical acclaim.
Floyd Norman, 91, began his career in 1956 as the first Black animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, contributing to classic films like "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Jungle Book." His later work includes contributions to "Mulan," "Toy Story 2," and "Monsters, Inc."
Vachon and Koffler, co-founders of the independent production company Killer Films, will be the first female producing team and the first independent producers to receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Killer Films, established in 1995, is known for producing films such as "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," "Boys Don't Cry," and "Past Lives."
The Governors Awards ceremony is not televised and serves as an early highlight of Hollywood's awards season. The awards are selected by a special committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, rather than the full Academy membership.