Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson and more will be awarded with honorary Oscars at the long-delayed Governors Awards on Jan. 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood. Deadline reports that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selected Glover, Jackson, Elaine May and Liv Ullmann for the “most desired award in the motion picture industry” this week. Glover will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which is an Oscar statuette.
“We are thrilled to present this year’s Governors Awards to four honorees who have had a profound impact on both film and society,” Academy President David Rubin said in a statement.
“Sam Jackson is a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide, while Elaine May’s bold, uncompromising approach to filmmaking, as a writer, director and actress, reverberates as loudly as ever with movie lovers,” he continued. “Liv Ullmann’s bravery and emotional transparency has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals, and Danny Glover’s decades-long advocacy for justice and human rights reflects his dedication to recognizing our shared humanity on and off the screen.”
The Governors Awards were delayed due to the pandemic, though the Board did vote to bestow two Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards to Tyler Perry and the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which they received in April. On Instagram, Jackson reacted to the honor. “Well Awwwright” he wrote, adding, “#WouldntBePossibleWithoutYall.”
Supporters congratulated Jackson and Glover in the comments, with director Kenny Leon writing, “Yes!! My Brother!! In my mind — you won one [a] long time ago. Thanks for putting in the work… and it’s important that these muthfukkas have finally taken notice.”
In his bio, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Glover “first caught the attention of movie audiences in The Color Purple and went on to star opposite Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series.” The organization also noted the Emmy-nominated actor’s roles in To Sleep with Anger, The Royal Tenenbaums, Dreamgirls, Beyond the Lights and Sorry to Bother You.
“A lifelong community activist, his efforts for worldwide justice have inspired others to follow his leadership,” the Academy added. “He has been a particularly strong advocate for economic justice and access to health care and education in the United States and Africa. He has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program and is currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.”
The organization said that Jackson “has brought an indelible presence to his roles in more than 100 films ranging from independents to blockbusters.” The Golden Globe-nominated actor has starred in films like Pulp Fiction, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Shaft, The Hateful Eight, Chi-Raq, Django Unchained, Black Snake Moan, Unbreakable and many more. See Jackson’s post below.