Glenn Close, Ridley Scott, and Floyd Norman to Receive Honorary Oscars at Governors Awards

Acclaimed actress Glenn Close will receive an honorary Academy Award, a momentous achievement for one of the most highly regarded actors who has never won an Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that Close, along with director Ridley Scott and animator Floyd Norman, will be honored at the Governors Awards this year.

The Academy praised Glenn Close for her “unparalleled emotional range,” which has vividly portrayed some of cinema’s most intricate characters. Close has been nominated eight times for an Oscar, beginning with her role in 1983’s “The World According to Garp.” Her performances in “Fatal Attraction” and “Hillbilly Elegy” were also highlighted, and she shares the record with Peter O’Toole for the most nominations without a win. Despite this, she has won a multitude of distinguished awards, including three Emmys, three Tonys, three Grammys, and three Golden Globes.

The Governors Awards traditionally recognize artists with remarkable careers who have not yet secured a competitive Oscar. This was exemplified by last year’s recipient, Tom Cruise. Ridley Scott, aged 88, also receives recognition for a career marked by significant contributions to films like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator.” Despite four nominations, including for “Thelma & Louise” and “Black Hawk Down,” Scott has yet to win an Oscar.

Animator Floyd Norman, whose career spans 65 years, broke racial barriers in 1956 as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first Black animator. His work includes contributions to “Sleeping Beauty,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” and later, to “Mulan,” “Toy Story 2,” and “Monsters, Inc.”

Floyd Norman is the legendary animator who has broken barriers and inspired generations of artists over his remarkable career, the Academy stated.

In addition to these honors, producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Academy’s Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. This award distinguishes them for maintaining consistently high-quality film production. They co-founded Killer Films in 1995, contributing to independent cinema with works like “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “One Hour Photo,” and “May December.” Their film “Past Lives” was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 2024. Recognized for promoting unique and ambitious storytelling, Vachon and Koffler’s projects include “Velvet Goldmine,” “Happiness,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Far from Heaven,” and “Carol.”

These distinguished recipients will be celebrated on November 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, aligning with the opening of Hollywood’s award season. The Governors Awards event has increasingly attracted young stars and remains a prominent ceremonial occasion, recognizing lifetime achievements and contributions to the film industry.