American actress and businesswoman Debbie Reynolds was given an honorary award at the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards, which was held at Los Angeles, California on Sunday night.
Reynolds’ granddaughter, Scream Queens actress Billie Lourd, accepted the award on her behalf. Her mother and the original Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher, joined her during the event.
#ScreamQueens star Billie Lourd honored her grandma, Debbie Reynolds last night https://t.co/avppdOzcRx pic.twitter.com/RW1p3Q7ZQ7
— Just Jared Jr. (@justjaredjr) November 16, 2015
Reynolds, 83, was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which is given to individuals who have had significant contributions to humanitarian causes. Days before the award, Debbie Reynolds already stated that she would not be able to attend the 7th Governors Awards, due to a recent surgery that she is still recovering from.
Oscar Honoree Debbie Reynolds to Miss Governors Awards https://t.co/moZowFDywp pic.twitter.com/uiTHH7BNoh — Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 15, 2015
“I’m heartbroken that I’m unable to be there in person to receive this extraordinary honor you have given me, so you could see how unbelievably happy you have made me,” she said in the statement.
In response, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said that while they are saddened by the news, they are still “looking forward in honoring the actress’ achievements and commitment to philanthropy.”
Lourd, 23, received the award on Sunday night on behalf of her grandmother, who began her career in 1950 in Three Little Words, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.
Other notable films include Bundle of Joy (1956), The Catered Affair (1956), Mother (1996), and the popular Singin’ in the Rain (1952), which pushed her to stardom.
Watch A Young Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ In The Rain
Aside from starring in films and TV shows, Debbie Reynolds is also the former president of The Thalians, which is an organization dedicated to mental causes.
Earlier this year, Debbie Reynolds also received another award, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Other recent recipients of the prestigious award include Harry Belafonte, Angelina Jolie, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Lewis and Sherry Lansing.
