Tom Cruise finally gets his Oscar moment with a lifetime achievement trophy at the Governors Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Cruise, at 63 still the biggest movie star in a room full of them, finally got to hold his own Oscar on a Hollywood stage on Sunday night.

“Making movies is not what I do, it's who I am,” said Cruise. He was composed as always, but at moments seemed near tears as he spoke, grasping the gold honorary statuette that celebrated his more than 40 years at the apex of the industry at the film academy's annual Governors Awards.

“In that theater we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together,” he said after a two-minute ovation.

Production designer Wynn Thomas and choreographer and actor Debbie Allen were also selected by the academy's board of governors to be honored for their storied careers, and an absent Dolly Parton was honored for a lifetime of philanthropy at the ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.

A competitive Oscar has eluded Cruise, who's been nominated four times: as an actor for 1989’s “Born on the Fourth of July,” 1996’s “Jerry Maguire” and 1999’s “Magnolia,” and as a producer for 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Before he took the stage, the audience saw a long montage of clips from those and his other films — loaded with death-defying stunts he often did himself — from 1981's “Taps” through this year's “Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning.”

It was fitting that the Governors Awards aren't televised. Tom Cruise doesn't do TV, and he's been among the biggest champions of the theatergoing experience over streaming.

“I will always do everything I can to help this art form,” Cruise said. “To support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful. Hopefully without too many more broken bones.”

Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu presented Cruise the award. The two have spent several months shooting a film in London set for release in 2026. The collaboration suggests that Cruise, who has stuck to blockbuster franchise fare in recent years, might not be done trying to win an Academy Award the old-fashioned way.

“This may be his first Oscar,” Iñárritu said, “but from what I have seen and experienced, this will not be the last.”

The list of stars who attended suggests that the campaign for the next competitive Oscars is low-key underway. The banquet tables were filled with potential nominees, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Sydney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande and Jacob Elordi.

Here's a look at Sunday night's other honorees:

Allen, 75, has never been nominated for an Oscar. But the multi-hyphenate entertainer has played an integral role in the Oscars show, having choreographed seven ceremonies over the years, four of them nominated for Emmys.

As an actor she appeared in “Ragtime” and both the film and television series “Fame.” She was also a producer of the film “Amistad,” whose director, Steven Spielberg, hugged her as she took the stage.

A tearful Allen thanked the room for “this glorious golden moment in the sun.”

Cynthia Erivo presented the award to Allen, whom she considers an “aunty,” and praised her for lifting up her fellow Black artists.

“Debbie, you have not only shown us the great heights dedication to the arts can take us, you have fought to bring all of us along with you,” Erivo said.

Allen thanked her sister, actor Phylicia Rashad, and her husband of 40 years, former NBA all-star and LA Laker Norm Nixon, both of whom sat at her table.

Looking at her statuette, she said it feels like she and Oscar “got married. Sorry, Norman!”

Thomas was honored for the decades of visual imagination he brought to films as one of the first Black production designers and art directors of Hollywood films.

His movies have included director Ron Howard's best-picture winner “A Beautiful Mind” and director Tim Burton's sci-fi farce “Mars Attacks.”

But he's best known for his decades of collaborations with director Spike Lee on films including “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X” and “Da 5 Bloods.”

“My journey to storytelling began as a poor Black kid in one of the worst slums in Philadelphia,” Thomas said after accepting his statuette from Octavia Spencer. “The local gangs looked down on me and called me sissy. But that sissy grew up to work with some great filmmakers.”

Parton was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable work in literacy and education.

The country music giant had to miss the show, her representatives said, because of a long-established scheduling conflict, and not health difficulties that prompted her to cancel several recent concerts.

Parton has twice been nominated for best original song Oscars, including for “9 to 5,” the title song of her first film in an acting career that also included “Steel Magnolias.”

Her “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin presented the award, turning her struggles to read the teleprompter into comic improv. She fondly recalled the baby-doll pajamas Parton wore at the impromptu slumber parties they had with co-star Jane Fonda.

Tomlin said the song “9 to 5” became “an anthem for our times” and was itself an example of Parton's philanthropy with its emphasis on worker struggles.

She said it's ironic that there is so much artifice in Parton's appearance, because “she is the most authentic person I have ever known.”

Cruise, in typically hyper-prepared fashion, didn't just shout out his fellow nominees from the stage, but gave each their own detailed tribute. He told Thomas the exact date and theater he first saw one of his films, Spike Lee's “She's Gotta Have It.” He praised Parton for showing that “compassion and creativity are not separate.” And for Allen he quoted from the work of her mother, poet and playwright Vivian Ayers Allen.

Allen gave her own tribute to Cruise, recalling the early-career signature moment when he danced and lip-synced in his underwear in “Risky Business.”

“Honey, we loved when you slid out in those tighty-whiteys,” she said.

Leonardo DiCaprio arrives at the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Wynn Thomas, winner of an Academy honorary award poses onstage during the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Tom Cruise, from left, Debbie Allen, and Wynn Thomas, winners of Academy honorary awards pose onstage during the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Tom Cruise receives an Academy honorary award during the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Tom Cruise receives an Academy honorary award during the 16th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at The Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — This wasn't a typical Broncos game. For the first time this season, they didn't trail, and the final minutes were not overly stressful.

What was typical? They won again.

Bo Nix passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and Denver extended its winning streak to 10 games, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 on Sunday, a score that wasn't reflective of the Broncos' dominance.

“It did not feel like some of these other (games) recently,” coach Sean Payton said. “My headset was off earlier.”

The Raiders lost quarterback Geno Smith, who injured his right hand and shoulder in the third quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett. Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said Smith's hand was cut and his shoulder “really locked up” but there didn't appear to be significant damage.

The Broncos (11-2) appear to be on the verge of ending Kansas City's nine-year reign in the AFC West, and they tied idle New England for the top seed in the conference. Denver owns the tiebreaker because of its 6-0 record against common opponents; the Patriots lost to the Raiders.

The Broncos ended their NFL record of rallying for nine consecutive victories — this time, they only had to pull away from an early 7-7 tie. Denver has its best record through 13 games since 2013.

The Broncos have their skeptics, however, given how many victories they've had to eke out, and beating up on the free-falling Raiders likely won't silence the doubters.

“Ten in a row's a long streak,” Nix said. “You want to be appreciative of this opportunity and appreciative of the wins no matter how they come. But at the same time, we're always looking to get better.”

The Raiders (2-11) have lost seven in a row and 11 of 12. Las Vegas also has lost 11 consecutive divisional games, the league's longest active skid.

Statistics pointed to a potential mismatch with the Broncos bringing in a top-five defense against a Raiders offense that's at or near the bottom of several statistical categories. Denver held the ball for 39:03 and gained 356 yards with 27 first downs. The Raiders had 229 yards and 16 first downs.

Nix was highly efficient, completing 31 of 38 passes.

Nik Bonitto had two sacks, giving him 12 1/2 for the season. He is the first Denver player with double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons since Von Miller did it five straight times from 2014-18.

Smith was 13 of 21 for 116 yards and a touchdown. Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a TD.

“I've seen a lot of Kenny in practice,” Carroll said. “He's active, he's quick, he's really athletic, he's a good thinker, he's clearly a competitive guy. I see nothing but positive stuff. I'm coaching the hell out of him because I want him to be ready if the opportunity pops.”

Maxx Crosby had two tackles for loss, giving him 25 for the season to break his team record of 23 set three years ago.

Each team had just one possession in the first quarter — and made them count.

The Broncos opened with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took 8:54, with Nix running in from 8 yards to complete the series. Then the Raiders took the remaining time off the clock, with Smith hitting Brock Bowers for a 15-yard TD.

That was the first opening-series touchdown the Broncos have allowed this season. It also was the first opening Las Vegas drive to go the distance since the first game at New England.

Both offenses had their difficulties in the second quarter, with the only score coming on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown by Denver's Marvin Mims Jr.

RJ Harvey's 3-yard scoring run late in the third period gave Denver what seemed like an almost insurmountable two-touchdown lead. Harvey has five TD runs this season and four through the air.

Daniel Carlson's 46-yard field goal on the final play gave a particularly nasty beat to Broncos bettors. Denver was favored by 7 1/2 points at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Carlson would never have had a shot at the field goal if Broncos safety Brandon Jones hadn't drawn a delay-of-game penalty for not allowing wide receiver Tyler Lockett to get up after a 26-yard gain. That penalty stopped the clock with 5 seconds remaining.

“We're going to run the clock out,” Payton said. “That wasn't real smart.”

Broncos: DT D.J. Jones (ankle) and TE Nate Adkins (knee) did not play.

Raiders: CB Kyu Blu Kelly (knee), who leads the team with three interceptions, was injured early in the second quarter. ... TE Ian Thomas (calf) was hurt in the fourth quarter. ... TE Michael Mayer (ankle) and WRs Alex Bachman (thumb) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (concussion) did not play.

Broncos: Host Green Bay next Sunday.

Raiders: Visit Philadelphia next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, middle, is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) passes against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) scores in front of Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Denver Broncos' Marvin Mims Jr., middle, is congratulated by teammates after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)