Lee, Rowlands, Reynolds to receive honorary Academy Awards

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2015 file photo, writer-director Spike Lee poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus", at the Eddie Bauer Adventure House during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015 that Lee, actress Debbie Reynolds and actress Gena Rowlands will receive honorary Academy Awards this fall at the annual Governors Awards ceremony. The seventh annual Governors Awards will be presented on Nov. 14.(Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2015 file photo, writer-director Spike Lee poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus", at the Eddie Bauer Adventure House during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015 that Lee, actress Debbie Reynolds and actress Gena Rowlands will receive honorary Academy Awards this fall at the annual Governors Awards ceremony. The seventh annual Governors Awards will be presented on Nov. 14.(Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File)

By Associated Press August 27, 2015 1 min read

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) – Spike Lee, Gena Rowlands and Debbie Reynolds are the season’s first Oscar winners.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday that the filmmaker and two actresses will receive honorary Academy Awards Nov. 14 at its annual Governors Awards ceremony in Hollywood.

Lee and Rowlands will receive honorary Oscars for their career achievements. Each has two previous nominations.

Lee’s came for his original screenplay for 1989’s “Do the Right Thing” and for his 1997 documentary feature, “4 Little Girls.” Rowlands’ were for lead actress in 1974’s “A Woman Under the Influence” and in 1980’s “Gloria.”

Reynolds, a best actress Oscar nominee for 1964’s “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her more than 50 years of work promoting awareness and treatment of mental health issues.