HOLLYWOOD − 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 groundbreaking production designer Wynn Thomas.

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

"I will always do everything I can to help this art form," Cruise said. "To support and champion new voices, to protect what makes 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.

Following the global pandemic, director Steven Spielberg personally praised Cruise for "saving cinema's ass" after he insisted on releasing "Top Gun: Maverick" in theaters rather than streaming. The nearly $1.5 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 as-yet-untitled film set for release in 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, 79, had a previously scheduled event and could not attend the awards to accept the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in person. But the Queen of Country sent a video of thanks, talking about her humble East Tennessee 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 her Governors Award, Allen received an enthusiastic standing ovation led by Cruise and Spielberg, who cupped their hands to cheer at the stage. Spielberg directed the historical drama "Amistad," which recounts the 1839 revolt on a slave ship. Allen produced the film.

Allen thanked her sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, and her husband of 40 years, former NBA star Norm Nixon, who discreetly wiped tears from his eyes at his wife's success. The new Oscar winner gave her gold trophy some 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." His movies include director Ron Howard's Oscar-winning “A Beautiful Mind” and director Tim Burton's sci-fi farce “Mars Attacks.”

"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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