Oprah Winfrey to Get an Academy Award for Humanitarian Services

Yesterday (August 2), it was announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that Oprah Winfrey, actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith will be receiving an Oscar Award each.

The award presentation ceremony will be held on November 12 at the Hollywood & Highland Center’s Grand Ballroom.

Winfrey will be presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while Jones and Smith will be given honorary Academy Awards in recognition for their illustrious careers. The trio was chosen for the accolades by the Academy’s board of governors through a voting procedure.

While all three have previously been nominated for Oscars, only Smith has been able to land the big prize for his contribution in the 1984 movie “Amadeus.” A year later, Winfrey unsuccessfully contended for the Best Supporting Actress award for to his part in “The Color Purple,” while Jones was overlooked for the Best Actor award in 1970 in favor of George C. Scott.

This will be the first time since 2009 that the board of governors has chosen three separate recipients of the award.

Winfrey has setup numerous charities and educational institutes and also runs a welfare foundation under her own name in Africa.

Jones is an 80 year old movie veteran, who has more than 50 movies to his credit, while Smith has been associated with the movie business since 1945. He also has the unique honor of being NBC’s first ever makeup artist.

Source: [ibtimes.com]