The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award is awarded periodically by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) at the
Governors Awards ceremonies for an individual's "outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes". Prior to 2009 and in 2021, this award was presented during the main Oscars ceremony. The award category was instituted in 1956 and first awarded at the
29th Academy Awards, in March 1957. Unlike the Academy Award of Merit, the awards are restricted with the nomination and voting limited to industry professionals that are members of the Board of Governors of AMPAS.[1]
History
The award is named after
Danish American screen actor and humanitarian
Jean Hersholt (1886–1956), who served as president of the
Motion Picture Relief Fund for 18 years. He also served as president of AMPAS from 1945 to 1949.[2] Winners of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award are presented with an Academy Award Oscar statuette. As of the
92nd Academy Awards, there have been 39 awards presented, two of which were posthumous.[2]