American actor, Tyler Perry will receive an honorary statuette at this year’s Oscars for his humanitarian work, including efforts to get the entertainment industry safely back to work during the coronavirus pandemic, the Academy announced Thursday.
The prolific movie producer has set up a self-contained, 330-acre (133-hectare) production “campus” at a Civil War-era Confederate military base in Atlanta, Georgia, where hundreds have been employed while Covid-19 shuts down productions in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Perry spearheaded the greater diversity in Hollywood, produced dozens of films and TV shows starring mainly African American actors, and last year paid funeral costs for victims of police violence including George Floyd.
The 51-year-old Perry — a producer, actor, writer and director — first achieved mainstream US success with his outspoken grandmother character Madea in the 2005 movie “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”
His films, TV shows and plays have since made him a household name in the US, especially among African Americans, and he became a billionaire last year, according to Forbes — but he remains relatively little-known abroad.
Perry was separately honoured at television’s Emmys, which were held virtually in September.
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award has been handed out by the Academy most years since 1957, and last went to “Thelma & Louise” star Geena Davis for her work promoting gender equality in media. Other previous winners include Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey and Elizabeth Taylor.
Perry will receive his at the 93rd Oscars, due to take place April 25, which will also see a second Jean Hersholt award handed to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.