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

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."

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

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.

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."

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.

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

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."

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fred Astaire won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1961. 

Bing Crosby won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1960.

Actor Maurice Chevalier won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1959.

Producer Buddy Adler won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1958.

Actor, director and producer Mervyn LeRoy won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1957.

Producer Jack L. Warner won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1956.

Actor Jean Hersholt won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1955.

Producer Darryl F. Zanuck won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1954.

Walt Disney won the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1953.

Naturally, Cecil B. DeMille won the Cecil B. DeMille Award himself in 1952, the honor's very first year.