Taking home an Oscar is no longer "Mission: Impossible" for Tom Cruise.

The perpetually brown-haired Cruise, 63, humbly accepted an honorary Oscar at the 16th annual Academy Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 16, along with country music icon Dolly Parton, choreographer/producer Debbie Allen and ground-breaking production designer Wynn Thomas.

"Making films is not what I do, it is who I am," twice-Oscar-nominated Cruise said from the podium of the Roy Dolby Ballroom, a ballroom away from the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are annually held.

Cruise promised to continue making "cinema powerful. Hopefully without too many more broken bones."

The box-office titan and "Top Gun" superstar has been Oscar-nominated for acting roles in "Born on the Fourth of July," "Jerry Maguire" and "Magnolia," as well as for producing and starring in the Oscar-nominated "Top Gun: Maverick."

But he's never taken home the big Oscar prize until now. Cruise talked about a childhood spent mesmerized by the movie theater projector.

"That beam of light opened a desire to open the world to me, and I have been following it ever since," said Cruise, who never mentioned his controversial ties to the Church of Scientology.

Following the global pandemic, Steven Spielberg personally praised Cruise for "saving cinema's ass" after the superstar insisted on releasing "Top Gun: Maverick" in theaters rather than streaming. The $1.495 billion box-office hit is widely credited with restoring faith in the theater experience at its lowest point.

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who directs Cruise in an upcoming film set to be released in October 2026, presented the award.

"This might be his first Oscar, but what I have seen and experienced: it will not be the last," Iñárritu said. "If you stand next to him, you start to feel like the rest of us belong to a rapidly decaying species. He easily has another 60 years of career and more awards. But we will not be here."

Dolly Parton beams thanks for humanitarian Oscar award

Parton had a previously scheduled event and could not attend the awards. But the Queen of Country sent a video talking about her humble childhood.

"We didn't have too much to share, but my mama and daddy showed me that the more you give, the more blessings come your way," said Parton. "And I have been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible, like with this award tonight."

Debbie Allen: It's like 'I got married' to Oscar

Over five decades, Allen, 75, choreographed the Academy Awards ceremony seven times and films including "Forget Paris," "A Jazzman's Blues" and "The Six Triple Eight."

Upon receiving the Governors Awards, Allen received a standing ovation from Cruise and Steven Spielberg, who cupped their hands to hoot at the stage. Spielberg directed the historical drama "Amistad," which recounts the 1839 revolt on a slave ship. Allen produced the film.

The theater camera also showed Allen's husband, former NBA star Norman Nixon, discreetly wiping tears from his eyes at his wife's success. Nonetheless, Allen gave her Oscar trophy love.

"It's like I got married," Allen said, clutching her trophy. "I'm definitely taking him to work with me."

Production designer Wynn Thomas says 'thank you' isn't enough

Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer presented the honorary Oscar to Wynn Thomas, calling the celebrated filmmaker "the first black production designer in the history of film."

Thomas was the production designer for Spike Lee’s "She’s Gotta Have It," "Do the Right Thing," "Malcolm X" and "Da 5 Bloods."

"Tonight is an evening of thank yous, and I'm a little frustrated with the words 'thank you,'" Thomas said. "They seem like inadequate words."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Cruise gets his first Oscar, says that making movies is 'who I am'

Reporting by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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