Tom Cruise will be honored by the American Film Institute for his entire career

Tom Cruise will receive the AFI Life Achievement Award in recognition of his more than four-decade contribution to the development of cinema. The distinction was announced by the American Film Institute (AFI), and the actor and producer will join a prestigious list of honorees.

Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, praised Cruise’s commitment to cinema and his belief in the power of films to bring people together. The 64-year-old actor is known for his roles in “Risky Business,” “A Few Good Men,” “Jerry Maguire,” “Minority Report” and the “Mission: Impossible” series.

Cruise has received three Academy Award nominations for acting, and as a producer he distinguished himself through the success of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was nominated for Best Picture. Last year, he also received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards.

The AFI Life Achievement Award, established in 1973, honors artists whose work has stood the test of time. Past honorees include John Ford, Bette Davis, Sidney Poitier, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman and Eddie Murphy. Proceeds from the gala will support AFI’s educational and artistic programs.