Oprah Among Honorary Oscar Recipients
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith will receive Honorary Oscars at this year's Governors Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday.
All three will receive their statuettes Nov. 12 at the third annual Governors Awards.
2012 Oscars date announced
Winfrey, a supporting actress nominee for 1985's The Color Purple, will be recognized for her extensive philanthropic efforts. She is the 34th Jean Hersholt recipient and the first since 2009 when Jerry Lewis won.
Jones and Smith, meanwhile, will receive Honorary Oscars for their lengthy and celebrated careers. Jones has received one Oscar nod — for Best Actor in 1970's The Great White Hope — and Smith won Best Makeup for 1984's Amadeus. Known as the "godfather of makeup," Smith was also nominated for 1989's Dad and has worked on The Godfather, The Exorcist and Taxi Driver.
The Irving G. Thalberg Award, which was given to Francis Ford Coppola last year, will not be handed out this year.