Film Legends Recognized
Academy Announces Honorary Oscars for Glenn Close, Ridley Scott, and Floyd Norman
Key Points
Glenn Close’s eight Oscar nominations are described as the most nominations without a win of any living performer—and she’s also noted as “plac[ing] her alongside the late Peter O’Toole as the performer with the most acting nominations without a win in Oscar history.”
Close’s Oscar-nomination history includes titles beyond those cited in the summary: the article lists nominations for “Albert Nobbs” and “The Wife,” in addition to “The World According to Garp,” “The Big Chill,” “The Natural,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” and “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Ridley Scott’s Oscar record is further detailed as “nominated three times for Best Director and once as a producer for Best Picture”—and he’s characterized as the “eighth highest grossing director of all time at the box office.”
In quoting the Academy president, the release specifically praises Floyd Norman as “the legendary animator who has broken barriers and inspired generations of artists over his remarkable career.”
The Governors Awards coverage also highlights major crossover honors in other awards: Close “won a Tony Award” for “Sunset Boulevard,” Scott received a “Grammy nomination for… ‘American Gangster’” (soundtrack), and Norman contributed to Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will give honorary Oscars to actress Glenn Close, director Ridley Scott, and animator Floyd Norman at the 17th Governors Awards on November 15, 2026, The Academy announced on June 10. The ceremony takes place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood, in partnership with Rolex.
Close holds a painful record: eight acting nominations without a single win — the most of any living performer, IGN reports. Scott has been nominated four times total (three for Best Director) and is also still waiting for his first competitive win. Independent film producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
Glenn Close's Eight Nominations and No Win
Close's eight nominations span nearly four decades. Her first came for her debut in *The World According to Garp* in 1982. Her most recent was for *Hillbilly Elegy* in 2020, The Playlist notes. In between came *The Big Chill*, *The Natural*, *Fatal Attraction*, *Dangerous Liaisons*, *Albert Nobbs*, and *The Wife*.
The Academy president, Lynette Howell Taylor, praised Close's "unparalleled emotional range," Screen Daily reported. Close's record ties her with the late Peter O'Toole for the most acting nominations without a win in Oscar history. Off the Oscars stage, she did win a Tony Award for *Sunset Boulevard*. She is also set to appear in *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery*, meaning a competitive win could still come.
Ridley Scott: A Visionary Still Chasing His First Win
Scott, now 88, directed *Alien*, *Blade Runner*, *Gladiator*, and *The Martian*. He is the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time at the global box office, AS USA reports. His films have won many Oscars — just never for him personally.
Taylor called Scott a "true visionary" with an "immeasurable impact on global cinema," Screen Daily reported. His four nominations cover three Best Director nods and one Best Picture nomination as a producer. He also earned a Grammy nomination for the *American Gangster* soundtrack. Expert Roger Friedman of Showbiz411 called this group of honorees "the best in years."
Floyd Norman: Disney's First Black Animator at 90
Floyd Norman, now 90, began at Disney in 1956 — a 65-year career, Screen Daily notes. He worked on Walt Disney's personal final projects, including *The Jungle Book* in 1967 and contributed to *Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree*. He was the first Black animator hired by Disney.
Taylor described Norman as a "legendary animator who has broken barriers and inspired generations of artists," kjwl.com reported. His recognition reflects the Academy's push to honor behind-the-scenes pioneers — especially those who helped build the art of animation but were often overlooked during their peak years.
Killer Films Producers Win Thalberg Award for Indie Legacy
Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler co-founded Killer Films in 1995, The Hindu reports. The company has backed some of the most distinctive American independent films of the past three decades. The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award goes to "creative producers" and is handed out less often than honorary Oscars.
Taylor praised the pair for championing "distinctive storytelling" and called them central to American independent cinema, TheWrap reported. Their recognition comes as the film industry faces pressure from corporate consolidation and AI-driven cost-cutting — making a nod to indie production models feel especially timely.
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