In a scene like something out of her movie Fame, Debbie Allen broke into dance with Tom Cruise as they celebrated their honorary Oscars.
The two stars busted a move at a party hosted by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy on Saturday, Nov. 15, the day before they were recognized at the 16th Governors Awards.
In a now-viral video shared to social media by the dance studio, the Mission Impossible star and the Fame actress boogied to the Frankie Beverly and Maze hit “Before I Let Go.”
On Sunday, Allen and Cruise attended the 2025 Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.
Related: Film Academy Changes Rules – Oscars Voters Must Now Watch All Nominated Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored the pair for their contributions to the film industry. Production designer Wynn Thomas was also honored, and Dolly Parton received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Allen got emotional on stage after being presented with the first Oscar of her career by Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo.
“Thank you so much to the academy and the board of governors for this glorious, golden moment in the sun with Oscar,” the Houston native said through tears. “Movies were a way in for me, for my sister [Phylicia Rashad]. We used to watch all the movies, and our imaginations could go and wonder, and we could see ourselves.”
Allen’s career spans nearly five decades as a choreographer, actor, director and producer. She choreographed the Oscars broadcast seven times and worked on a long list of films, including Forget Paris, A Jazzman’s Blues, and The Six Triple Eight. Her producing credits include Amistad and A Star for Rose, and she had acting roles in Fame and Ragtime.
While accepting his first Oscar, Cruise paid tribute to the night’s other honorees in his speech.
“You are all my friends,” the beaming actor said.
The Jerry Maguire star noted that he’s always been a movie fan and said the film industry is part of his DNA.
“Making films is not what I do, it is who I am,” the actor and producer shared.
Cruise is one of the highest-grossing performers in Hollywood history. Known for doing his own stunts and producing his films, he is known to fans for his roles in the Top Gun franchise, Jerry Maguire, Born on the Fourth of July, Minority Report, Collateral, A Few Good Men, Magnolia, The Last Samurai, and the Mission: Impossible movies. He was previously nominated for four competitive Oscars.
Thomas is best known for his longtime collaborations with Spike Lee and worked as a production designer on Do the Right Thing, and Malcolm X, as well as on Hidden Figures, and A Beautiful Mind.
He was presented his award by Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer. After walking on stage, Thomas appeared a bit nervous. He laughed and said, “Wow!”
“For me the simple word thank you is filled with an enormous amount of love, affection and appreciation,” he said in his speech. “I am honored to be receiving this Governors Award.”
Parton did not attend the ceremony and instead sent in a video thanking the academy for recognizing her.
A two-time Oscar nominee in the best original song category, she was honored for her decades of charitable work, including her “Imagination Library,” which has provided hundreds of millions of free books to children around the world.
You can watch all of the speeches on the Oscars YouTube page.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
