Glenn Close is set to receive an Oscar at last, albeit not through competition. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the acclaimed actor will be honored with an Honorary Academy Award at the 2026 Governors Awards, recognizing a career spanning more than four decades and producing some of cinema's most memorable performances.
Honorees Announced
Close will be joined by filmmaker Ridley Scott and pioneering animator Floyd Norman, who will also receive honorary Oscars. Producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will be presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, one of the Academy's highest honors for producers.
Close's Career and Nominations
The announcement arrives after years of discussion about Close's place among the most celebrated actors never to win a competitive Oscar. The 79-year-old performer has earned eight Academy Award nominations throughout her career, beginning with her supporting actress nomination for The World According to Garp in 1983. She later received nominations for films including Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and Hillbilly Elegy. Her eight nominations without a win tie her with Peter O'Toole for the most acting nominations without securing a competitive Oscar.
Despite that distinction, Close has accumulated an extraordinary collection of honors elsewhere, including multiple Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. In its announcement, the Academy praised Close's ability to portray emotionally complex characters throughout her career. The organization described her body of work as one that has demonstrated exceptional emotional depth and versatility across film, television, and theatre.
Recognition for Ridley Scott and Floyd Norman
Scott will also receive long overdue recognition for a filmmaking career that has helped shape modern cinema. The director of Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and numerous other acclaimed productions has been nominated for Academy Awards several times but has never won a competitive Oscar. His influence on science fiction, historical epics, and dramatic filmmaking has made him one of the most respected directors of his generation.
Norman's honor acknowledges a groundbreaking career that began in 1956 when he became the first Black animator employed by Walt Disney Animation Studios. During a career spanning roughly 65 years, he contributed to classics including Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, Mulan, Toy Story 2, and Monsters Inc. His achievements opened doors for future generations of artists and animators throughout the industry.
Thalberg Award for Vachon and Koffler
Meanwhile, Vachon and Koffler are being recognized for their work through Killer Films, the influential independent production company they founded in 1995. Their producing credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Boys Don't Cry, Far from Heaven, Carol, May December, and Past Lives. The Academy credited the pair with championing ambitious and distinctive storytelling within American independent cinema.
Ceremony Details
The 2026 Governors Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.
