Lee, Rowlands, Reynolds to get honorary Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will bestow honorary awards on actress Gena Rowlands and writer-director Spike Lee, and present its Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to actress Debbie Reynolds.

The awards were voted for on Tuesday night at a meeting of the Academy's board of governors and will be presented at the seventh annual Governors Awards, scheduled for November 14 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland, reports variety.com.

Honorary awards are given each year for lifetime achievements, exceptional contributions to motion picture arts and sciences, and outstanding service to the Academy.

Rowlands has been nominated twice for Best Actress in a Leading Role - for 1974's "A Woman Under the Influence" and 1980's "Gloria", both of which were directed by her late husband John Cassavetes.

Lee has received two Oscar nominations - an original screenplay nomination for 1989's "Do the Right Thing" and a documentary feature nomination for 1997's "4 Little Girls".

Reynolds has had a prolific film career. She starred in the classic "Singin' in the Rain" and has earned one Oscar nomination as Best Actress for 1964's "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".