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

Glenn Close will finally receive an Oscar. Known as one of the best actors never to have won, she will get an honorary Academy Award. Director Ridley Scott and animator Floyd Norman will join her at the annual Governors Awards, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.

The academy praised Close, stating, “Throughout her extraordinary body of work, Glenn Close’s unparalleled emotional range has brought to life some of the most complex characters in cinema.”

Floyd Norman is recognized as a legendary animator who has inspired many artists in his extensive career. Ridley Scott, called a true visionary, has significantly impacted global cinema and culture.

Close, aged 79, received her first nomination in 1983 for “The World According to Garp.” She was recognized again for her role in “Fatal Attraction” in 1987 and more recently for “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2020. Her eight nominations match Peter O’Toole’s record for the most nominations by an actor without a win. Close has also won three Emmys, three Tonys, three Grammys, and three Golden Globes.

The Governors Awards usually honor artists with outstanding careers who haven’t won a competitive Oscar. Tom Cruise was a previous recipient. Scott, aged 88, directed films like “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator.” Despite four nominations, including for “Thelma & Louise” and “Black Hawk Down,” he has not won an Oscar.

Floyd Norman’s 65-year career began in 1956 as the first Black animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. His contributions include “Sleeping Beauty,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Robin Hood.” Later, he worked on “Mulan,” “Toy Story 2,” and “Monsters, Inc.”

Producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. This award is given to a creative producer whose work shows a high standard of motion picture production. Vachon and Koffler co-founded Killer Films in 1995. Their produced films include “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “One Hour Photo,” and “May December.” Both were nominated for best picture Oscars for “Past Lives” in 2024. Their portfolio also includes “Velvet Goldmine,” “Happiness,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Far from Heaven,” and “Carol.”

The academy states that Vachon and Koffler “play a central role in American independent cinema, championing bold, ambitious, and distinctive storytelling.”

All honorees will be recognized at a ceremony on November 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, home of the primary Oscars ceremony. The event has become an unofficial kickoff for Hollywood’s award season, drawing both seasoned and young stars. The Governors Awards celebrate “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy,” according to the academy.