The Governors Awards put the finishing touches on the return of awards season to its glitzy, frenetic pre-pandemic state.
On hand for the Academy event on Saturday night at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City were Martinique-born director Euzhan Palcy, American singer-songwriter Diane Warren, and Australian director Peter Weir to receive their honorary Oscars. Michael J. Fox also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Oscar contenders including Jennifer Lawrence, Florence Pugh, Angela Bassett, Eddie Redmayne, Michelle Williams, Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Tom Hanks, Janelle Monáe and Baz Luhrmann attended the celebration, typically a marquee event for campaigning that has been muted since COVID-19 hit.
“Wow, what a room! Who wouldn’t want to be here tonight?” Academy president Janet Yang said, opening the event.
Fox, 61, who is best known for the Back to the Future films and Family Ties TV series, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. In 2000, he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and he is the subject of a documentary, now in production, from Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim.
