Cecil B. DeMille Award Winners: Every Star Who's Ever Earned the Golden Globes' Big Honor

See the list of illustrious names, from the man himself to this year's honoree

February 28, 2021 05:30 PM

1 of 68

Jane Fonda, 2021

Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty

The esteemed actress will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2021 ceremony on Feb. 28. "It was so unexpected," she said of finding out she'd receive the award. "And it's such a great honor. And it made me so happy that I burst into tears."

2 of 68

Tom Hanks, 2020

Credit: NBC

Tom Hanks won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2020, and gave a heartfelt speech thanking his family, his past directors and DeMille himself.

3 of 68

Jeff Bridges, 2019

Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

When Jeff Bridges won the Cecil B DeMille Award in 2019, his wife, brother and sister were in the audience to cheer him on as he thanked past costars, his team and even his stand-in.

Continued on next slide.

4 of 68

Oprah Winfrey, 2018

Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty

Oprah Winfrey won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2018, becoming the first Black woman to receive the honor. Her passionate speech began with recollections of watching Sidney Poitier break barriers at awards shows, commentary on the Time's Up movement and the promise that "a new day is on the horizon."

5 of 68

Meryl Streep, 2017

Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC via USA TODAY NETWORK

Meryl Streep won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2017 and used her time at the mic to take aim at then-President Donald Trump in a firey speech.

6 of 68

Denzel Washington, 2016

Credit: Getty

Denzel Washington won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, and brought his family on stage with him for his speech.

Continued on next slide.

7 of 68

George Clooney, 2015

Credit: Getty

When George Clooney won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2015, he called out new wife Amal, sweetly saying, "I couldn’t be prouder to be your husband."

8 of 68

Woody Allen, 2014

Director Woody Allen won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2014.

9 of 68

Jodie Foster, 2013

Credit: jimmy kimmel live/ youtube

Jodie Foster won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2013; before that, she'd been nominated for 10 Golden Globe Awards and won two.

Continued on next slide.

10 of 68

Morgan Freeman, 2012

Credit: Morgan Freeman arrives to the premiere of the film "Going In Style" March 30, 2017 in New York. / AFP PHOTO / Bryan R. Smith (Photo credit should read BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor Morgan Freeman won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012, after earning five Golden Globe Award nominations and one win for 1990's Driving Miss Daisy.

11 of 68

Robert De Niro, 2011

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Actor Robert De Niro won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011, after receiving eight prior nominations and one win (1981's Raging Bull).

12 of 68

Martin Scorsese, 2010

Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Director Martin Scorsese won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010. Prior to that, he had eight Golden Globe nominations and two wins; he's since been nominated two more times and won once.

Continued on next slide.

13 of 68

Steven Spielberg, 2009

A 22-time Golden Globe Award nominee and six-time winner, Steven Spielberg won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2009.

14 of 68

Warren Beatty, 2007

Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage

The Golden Globe Awards didn't happen in 2008 due to the Writer's Guild of America strike. But one year prior, Warren Beatty won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2007. His first Globes win came in 1962 for most promising newcomer - male.

15 of 68

Anthony Hopkins, 2006

Credit: Greg Doherty/Getty

Though he's been nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards, when Anthony Hopkins won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2006, it was his first Globes win.

Continued on next slide.

16 of 68

Robin Williams, 2005

Credit: Ben Gabbe/Getty

Robin Williams won the Cecil B. DeMille Awards in 2005. The actor had 10 Globes nominations and five wins, including a special award for his vocal work on Aladdin in 1993.

17 of 68

Michael Douglas, 2004

Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

Since Michael Douglas won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2004, he's won two more Golden Globe Awards, in 2014 and 2019.

18 of 68

Gene Hackman, 2003

Credit: Vera Anderson/WireImage

Before Gene Hackman won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2003, the actor had eight Globes nominations and three wins.

Continued on next slide.

19 of 68

Harrison Ford, 2002

Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

When Harrison Ford won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002, he attempted to get away with a short speech, jokingly saying simply "thank you" before launching into a few more words of gratitude.

20 of 68

Al Pacino, 2001

Credit: Gabriel Olsen/Getty

When Al Pacino won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002, he was already a two-time Golden Globe winner, and has since won two more Globes.

21 of 68

Barbra Streisand, 2000

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Barbra Streisand won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2000.

Continued on next slide.

22 of 68

Jack Nicholson, 1999

Jack Nicholson won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1999.

23 of 68

Shirley McLaine, 1998

Shirley MacLaine won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1998.

24 of 68

Dustin Hoffman, 1997

Dustin Hoffman won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1997.

Continued on next slide.

25 of 68

Sean Connery, 1996

Credit: Evan Agostini/AP

Sean Connery won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1996.

26 of 68

Sophia Loren, 1995

Sophia Loren won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1995.

27 of 68

Robert Redford, 1994

Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Robert Redford won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994.

Continued on next slide.

28 of 68

Lauren Bacall, 1993

Credit: Margaret Norton/NBC/Getty

Lauren Bacall won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1993.

29 of 68

Robert Mitchum, 1992

Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Actor and director Robert Mitchum won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1992.

30 of 68

Jack Lemmon, 1991

Credit: Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Jack Lemmon won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1991.

Continued on next slide.

31 of 68

Audrey Hepburn, 1990

Credit: Bettmann/Getty

Audrey Hepburn won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1990, just three years before her death.

32 of 68

Doris Day, 1989

Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Doris Day won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1989.

33 of 68

Clint Eastwood, 1988

Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty

Clint Eastwood won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1988.

Continued on next slide.

34 of 68

Anthony Quinn, 1987

Actor Anthony Quinn won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1987.

35 of 68

Barbara Stanwyck, 1986

Barbara Stanwyck won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1986.

36 of 68

Elizabeth Taylor, 1985

Credit: Edward Quinn Archive

Elizabeth Taylor won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1985.

Continued on next slide.

37 of 68

Paul Newman, 1984

Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

Paul Newman won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1984.

38 of 68

Laurence Olivier, 1983

Credit: Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Laurence Olivier (center) won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1983.

39 of 68

Sidney Poitier, 1982

Credit: Rich Polk/Getty

Sidney Poitier won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1982. He was the first person of color to receive the honor.

Continued on next slide.

40 of 68

Gene Kelly, 1981

Credit: Anonymous/AP/Shutterstock

Gene Kelly won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1981.

41 of 68

Henry Fonda, 1980

Credit: Elisa Leonelli/Shutterstock

Henry Fonda won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1980. His daughter Jane is being honored in 2021.

42 of 68

Lucille Ball, 1979

Credit: Arthur Fellig/Getty

Lucille Ball won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979.

Continued on next slide.

43 of 68

Red Skelton, 1978

Credit: Fred Sabine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Red Skelton won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1978.

44 of 68

Walter Mirisch, 1977

Credit: Anonymous/AP/Shutterstock

Producer Walter Mirisch (left) won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1977.

45 of 68

Hal B. Wallis, 1975

Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The award wasn't given out in 1976, but producer Hal B. Wallis won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1975.

Continued on next slide.

46 of 68

Bette Davis, 1974

Bette Davis won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1974.

47 of 68

Samuel Goldwyn, 1973

Credit: Getty Images

Producer Samuel Goldwyn won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1973.

48 of 68

Alfred Hitchcock, 1972

Director Alfred Hitchcock won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1972.

Continued on next slide.

49 of 68

Frank Sinatra, 1971

Credit: Bettmann/CORBIS

Frank Sinatra won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971.

50 of 68

Joan Crawford, 1970

Credit: SNAP/REX/Shutterstock

Joan Crawford won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1970.

51 of 68

Gregory Peck, 1969

Credit: Max B. Miller/Fotos International/Getty Images

Gregory Peck (left) won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1969.

Continued on next slide.

52 of 68

Kirk Douglas, 1968

Credit: Getty Images

Kirk Douglas won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1968.

53 of 68

Charlton Heston, 1967

Credit: I.B.L./Rex

Charlton Heston won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1967.

54 of 68

John Wayne, 1966

Credit: Paul W. Bailey/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

John Wayne won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1966.

Continued on next slide.

55 of 68

James Stewart, 1965

James Stewart won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1965.

56 of 68

Joseph E. Levine, 1964

Credit: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

Producer Joseph E. Levine won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1964.

57 of 68

Bob Hope, 1963

Credit: Everett Collection

Bob Hope won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1963.

Continued on next slide.

58 of 68

Judy Garland, 1962

Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

When Judy Garland won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1962, she became both the youngest person and first female to do so.

Account

More

Account

More

Cecil B. DeMille Award Winners: Every Star Who's Ever Earned the Golden Globes' Big Honor

1 of 68

Jane Fonda, 2021

1 of 68

2 of 68

Tom Hanks, 2020

2 of 68

3 of 68

Jeff Bridges, 2019

3 of 68

4 of 68

Oprah Winfrey, 2018

4 of 68

5 of 68

Meryl Streep, 2017

5 of 68

6 of 68

Denzel Washington, 2016

6 of 68

7 of 68

George Clooney, 2015

7 of 68

8 of 68

Woody Allen, 2014

8 of 68

9 of 68

Jodie Foster, 2013

9 of 68

10 of 68

Morgan Freeman, 2012

10 of 68

11 of 68

Robert De Niro, 2011

11 of 68

12 of 68

Martin Scorsese, 2010

12 of 68

13 of 68

Steven Spielberg, 2009

13 of 68

14 of 68

Warren Beatty, 2007

14 of 68

15 of 68

Anthony Hopkins, 2006

15 of 68

16 of 68

Robin Williams, 2005

16 of 68

17 of 68

Michael Douglas, 2004

17 of 68

18 of 68

Gene Hackman, 2003

18 of 68

19 of 68

Harrison Ford, 2002

19 of 68

20 of 68

Al Pacino, 2001

20 of 68

21 of 68

Barbra Streisand, 2000

21 of 68

22 of 68

Jack Nicholson, 1999

22 of 68

23 of 68

Shirley McLaine, 1998

23 of 68

24 of 68

Dustin Hoffman, 1997

24 of 68

25 of 68

Sean Connery, 1996

25 of 68