Oprah Winfrey is to be honoured with the 2011 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Governors Awards in November.
The honour - an Oscar statuette - is bestowed on an individual in the movie industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to showbusiness.
James Earl Jones and make-up artist DICk Smith will also be handed Honorary Awards at the third annual Hollywood gala.
The Honorary Award is given to an individual for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy."