Who should receive the next honorary Oscar?
Our forum posters have lots of winning suggestions. (Click Here) For starters, a no brainer: can we just hurry up and give poor Jerry Lewis that Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his charity work already?
As for the other honorary laurels, consider these mega-talents who never won an Oscar in a competitive race: Doris Day, Albert Finney, Catherine Deneuve, Tony Curtis, Jeanne Moreau, Liv Ullmann, Maureen O'Hara, Richard Widmark, Gena Rowlands, Jean Simmons, Harrison Ford, Jules Dassin, James Earl Jones, Donald Sutherland, Max Von Sydow, Peter Falk, Dennis Hopper, Eli Wallach, Charles Durning and Angela Lansbury.
Tony Curtis seems like a logical choice given his ace work in so many classic pix like "The Sweet Smell of Success," "Spartacus" and "Some Like It Hot." He was only nominated for an Oscar once, back in 1958 for best actor in "The Defiant Ones." He lost to David Niven ("Separate Tables"). However, Curtis' chances could be hurt by the dismissive comments he made a few years ago about "Brokeback Mountain," which seemed anti-gay. Even though he's an academy member who has an obligation to watch all nominated films, he told Fox News Channel that he had no intention of viewing it and he claimed to know many other voters who felt the same way. The star famous for dressing in drag in "Some Like It Hot" even claimed to speak for some deceased academy members, too, adding, "Howard Hughes and John Wayne wouldn't like it."
Albert Finney has never bothered to attend the ceremony for any of his four nominations and he once famously declined British knighthood. But our forums moderator Chris "Boomer" Beachum found an old quote from 2001 that suggests me might accept an honorary Golden Boy: "If I know I'm going to win, I'll go. But if I don't know, I'm not going to sit there."
I think they should ask Doris Day, age 83. I know, I know the rumor that she's turned down the academy in the past, but, if true, that may have been during the period soon after her son's tragic death from skin cancer in 2004. That same year she claimed she didn't accept the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in person was because she's afraid of flying. The California-based star did show up at the Golden Globes in 1989 to accept the Cecil B DeMille Award.
Who do you think the academy should hail with an honorary kudo? Click the "Comments" link below.
I love Doris day and I think she should receive an oscar. Her movies were clean and very funny. It is time to recognize her talent.
Posted by: Juan Smith | December 23, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Doris Day deserves half a dozen oscars.
Posted by: montserrat marti | December 23, 2007 at 01:17 PM
Unequivocally DORIS DAY!!! There is no one...and I mean not one single person...who has achieved so much and given so much to so many throughout her illustrious career as Doris Day has...Big Band singer, recording artist, film star, TV Star and for the past thirty years the worlds most humble humanitarian devoting her life to the care and welfare of our four legged friends.
Doris Day gave 150% to everything she did and made everything look so effortless and easy. The top female star of all time...Come on Academy, it shouldn't be dependent on Doris appearing to receive the award, she has earned it and it is rightfully hers. Let's add an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Oscar for Doris' contribution to films along with her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her music career. 2008 must be Doris' year.
Posted by: Annie | December 23, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Give Miss DORIS DAY what she has long and best deserved.
Posted by: V.L. | December 23, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Doris Day deserves an Oscar because she is simply the very best!. She worked so hard during her prestigious career, that I feel she can hardly have slept!...she has left those of us that have come along after her performing career ended with so much to appreciate. Doris Day deserves an Oscar!
Posted by: Kate Waclaw | December 22, 2007 at 02:49 PM
If any other movie star had the career that Doris Day enjoyed, they would have received a special Oscar years ago. If you check, you'll find that Miss Day is the top female boxoffice star of all time. She was the leading female recording artist of the 50s and early 60s, was a radio star, band singer and TV star as well. She stands out among the of greatest movie legends.
A special Oscar would be so appropriate.
Posted by: R.M. | December 22, 2007 at 09:32 AM
2008 has got to be the year for Doris Day to receive an Oscar!! She is to receive a Grammy in 2008 for her life time achievements to music.
She is a multi-talented - brilliant actress, talented comedian, and has a voice to charm the birds off the trees !!!
Posted by: Sheila | December 22, 2007 at 07:00 AM
Doris Day should finally have her Oscar Day. She deserves to have the proper recognition for a fabulous career and such an amazing talented Lady.
P.S. Mary Anne Barothy is no friend of Doris Day's!
Posted by: Karen | December 16, 2007 at 12:07 PM
DORIS DAY !!!!
A prodigious talent ! Not only could she sing and dance - she could make you laugh and cry. Musicals, comedies, drama ! She could do it all. She was number one in the box office and more importantly, number one in our hearts.
Posted by: Toni | December 15, 2007 at 07:14 PM
A great big yes to doris day,and wouldnt it be about time ?? By the way read "day at a time" and loved it,thank you ms. barothy
Posted by: janie ilean | November 28, 2007 at 03:42 PM
I, too, would like to see Doris Day receive an Academy Award for her Life Time Achievement and contribution to American film entertainment. Recently I sent a copy of her movie, "With Six You Get an Egg Roll" to my 38 year old daughter who is experiencing step-childrfen challenges. And I am about to rent "Love Me or Leave Me" for a friend who did not have the opportunity to see this great film when it was current.
Doris Day was not only a lovely actress and great singer, she has made an enormous contribution to the higher standards of American culture.
Thank you.
Mary Emberson
Big Bear City, CA
Posted by: Mary Emberson | October 28, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Doris Day - without a doubt- regardless of whether she will attend or not; come on Oscar!
Posted by: James Beggs | October 11, 2007 at 10:49 AM
I think it is time to honor Angela Lansbury. She has been a good supporter to many charities and she is a good actress and person.
Posted by: Beth Cornell | October 04, 2007 at 02:36 PM
The honorary Oscar MUST go to TONY CURTIS!!! It's a shame that the Academy ignored him in the past.
He gave such a great variety of dedicated performances in every genre you can think of - and he made a lot of real classic movies. A living legend!
Posted by: micha1702 | October 04, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Doris Day! Oh, yes, for her astonishing body of work and those wonderful records that just keep spinning and spinning. And for her ongoing kindness to her still-loyal fans. (She just answered my fan letter with a beautiful autographed photo. Of all the famous folk on my walls, Doris is the one that stops visitors in their tracks."Doris Day!" They exclaim, "How do you know her?!" That's my cue to knowingly say, "Oh, DoDo and I go way back..." And we do. Back to 12 year old me watching her in Love Me or Leave Me in 1955.) Give the award to Doris Day. I'll bet she'd show up to say hello. Marilyn Monroe deserves some official recognition from Hollywood, too, but she is a goddess now and hardly in need of any boost because she still gets more work than most of the live girls.
Posted by: Freeman Gunter | October 04, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Doris Day is an amazing creature. Just stepped down off the Les Brown bandstand and into the hot Burbank studio lights for the first time, and without missing a beat, "it" was already all there.I sense that Day's current philosophic attitude toward her Hollywood career is, perhaps wisely, been there, done that, now let's move on. That is to say, I believe she would decline the honor. But the Academy ought to at least give it a (another?) shot.
Posted by: Bill Reed | October 04, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Albert Finney but if he doesn't no probelm he is still the one !!!
Posted by: Ch@rlotte | October 04, 2007 at 07:32 AM
It HAS to be Doris Day! She has meant so much to so many people, as an actress, singer and animal rights activist. She's an icon and a great, great star.
Posted by: Allen Bardin | October 04, 2007 at 05:31 AM
Doris Day should definitely receive an honoary Oscar, as well as Richard Widmark.
I can't believe that Jerry Lewis has not won a humanitarian award. What more does the man have to do?
As for Tony Curtis, why? With his negative comments about the Oscars, I don't think he'd much appreciate it, and doesn't deserve it, anyway.
Posted by: Larry | October 04, 2007 at 05:26 AM
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson deserves one. Really. His charity work is wonderful. A lesson for many people in Hollywood.
Posted by: Alina | October 04, 2007 at 03:46 AM
i thought i read somewhere once that Doris Day has been asked many times if she'd accept an Honoary Oscar but that she absolutley refuses to accept any hollywood awards and that she is bascially a recluse who wants nothing to do with hollywood?
Posted by: Boidiva02 | October 03, 2007 at 09:43 PM
Correction to my previous post: Doris Day and Lauren Bacall are both 83. They were born in 1924 -- Day on April 3, Bacall on September 16.
David
Posted by: David Torresen | October 03, 2007 at 09:36 PM
i think lauren bacall is a great choice but what about cyd charisse, that woman changed the musical genre i think both of them should receive a honorary oscar.
Posted by: Benjamin | October 03, 2007 at 09:19 PM
Add my name to the Richard Widmark list for him to receive an honorary Oscar this time. It's long overdue for this talented actor & so many memorable film roles!!
Posted by: Shere | October 03, 2007 at 08:20 PM
It's pathetic that no actress has been awarded an honorary Oscar since Deborah Kerr in 1993. To make up for lost time, I say honor Doris Day in 2008 and Lauren Bacall in 2009. These genuine screen icons are both 84 now; contrast that with Robert Redford, who was honored when he was in his mid-sixties. Harrumph!
Day has been trivialized as the "eternal virgin" for decades, due mainly to her roles in 1960s "sex comedies." If that's all you imagine when you hear her name, buy or rent 1955's "Love Me or Leave Me" to see what she was really made of. Her co-star in that film, James Cagney, wrote: "Doris is the epitome of guilelessness. As an actress, she perfectly illustrates my definition of good acting: Just plant yourself, look the other actor in the eye, and tell him the truth."
Along with Cagney, she starred opposite Clark Gable, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Jack Lemmon, Frank Sinatra, Howard Keel, Gordon MacRae, David Niven, Louis Jourdan, Richard Widmark, James Garner, and of course Rock Hudson. Academy, start working on that honorary montage now!
Posted by: David Torresen | October 03, 2007 at 07:47 PM