Tom Hanks, Will Smith present honorary Oscars

The 2012 class of honorary Oscar winners received plenty of Hollywood star power help at the Governors Awards on Saturday night.

Documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, legendary stuntman and director Hal Needham, founder of the American Film Institute George Stevens Jr. and DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg were all presented with honorary Oscars by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The award winners were celebrated by Hollywood luminaries including Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Sidney Poitier.

Smith and Hanks gave speeches about Katzenberg's generosity as he was presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which was presented to Oprah Winfrey last year.

Hanks talked about the philanthropist's intense fundraising abilities and gave special mention to Katzenberg's role in setting up the national telethon in the days after the 9/11 attacks.

"Jeffrey Katzenberg doesn't have to do any of these things. But Jeffrey Katzenberg cannot help but to do all of these things - it is in his DNA, " said Hanks. "Jeffrey Katzenberg is a brilliant man, a hardworking man, a visionary and one of the most powerful men (in Hollywood).

"But more than anything else, Jeffrey Katzenberg is a public servant," he said.

During his acceptance speech, Katzenberg called on 95-year-old actor Kirk Douglas, who was sitting in the audience, as an inspiration.

"It's Kirk who taught me you haven't learned to live until you've learned to give," said Katzenberg. "It's a statement that echoes loudly."

Poitier received a standing ovation as he presented an honorary Oscar to Stevens, the founding director of the American Film Institute and co-founder of the Kennedy Center Honors.

"When you work with George Stevens, art and activism are never very far apart," said Poitier. "George is an extraordinary person. When he commits to something, he will get it done."

Tarantino gave a speech for stuntman Needham, who revolutionized the stunt business in 310 features and went on to direct films such as Smokey and the Bandit ("One of the most enjoyable first-directed features ever made," said Tarantino).

"He is the man," said Tarantino, praising Needham's stunt work. "Before he became a director, he pushed the boundaries of what could be done."

"I have ripped off many shots from you," he added. "Today, I say thank you very much."

Documentarian Michael Moore presented the honorary Oscar to Pennebaker, one of the pioneers of Direct Cinema and cinéma vérité. Three of Pennebaker's groundbreaking documentaries have been placed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

"He has remarkably never won an Oscar, but all of that is to change now," said Moore, speaking to Pennebaker. "You inspired me and countless others who followed in your very important footsteps."

Pennebaker was temporarily stunned in front of the glamorous crowd.

"It's amazing," he said. "Everyone here probably has one of these. I'm probably the last one."

USA Today