Kathleen Kennedy, Cicily Tyson celebrated at Governors Awards

Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and actress Cicely Tyson received honorary Oscars at the 10th annual Governor Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted the event on Sunday at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. Publicist Marvin Levy and composer Lalo Schifrin also received honorary Oscars.

Kennedy, who helms Disney's Star Wars franchise as the president of Lucasfilm, received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award alongside her husband Frank Marshall. The duo previously collaborated on films such as E.T., Indiana Jones, and Schindler's List and helped formed Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg. Kennedy is the first woman to receive the award which was created in 1937.

Steven Spielberg introduced Kennedy and Marshall and discussed their time together working on his films. "One day I walked into my office and saw the two of them making out on my couch. We were still three but they were two ... I couldn't be prouder to be their third wheel," the filmmaker said.

"Steven, Frank and I formed Amblin Entertainment in 1981 with a goal that I think would make Mr. Thalberg proud--to tell hopeful stories, stories about the triumph of the human spirit," Kennedy said onstage.

Tyson, known for starring in films such as Sounder, Fried Green Tomatoes and The Help, was introduced onstage by director Ava DuVernay.

"Mom, I know you didn't want me to do this [acting], but I did and here it is," Tyson said during her speech. "For the longest time, I wanted to hear something positive from her. When I did Jane Pittman...she said, 'I am so proud of you.' If I had not heard those words from her, none of this would make a difference to me."