Michael J. Fox vows 'no surrender' over Parkinson's disease; Cher gives Diane Warren first Oscar - Yahoo Entertainment

LOS ANGELES — Michael J. Fox was praised for his enactment seeking a Parkinson's illness cure and Cher presented songwriter Diane Warren with a agelong overdue Oscar astatine the Governors Awards Saturday night.

Directors Peter Weir and Euzhan Palcy were besides fixed honorary Oscars astatine the awards ceremonial presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Awards contenders including Jennifer Lawrence, Florence Pugh, Angela Bassett, Eddie Redmayne, Michelle Williams, Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Tom Hanks, Glen Powell and Janelle Monáe attended the black-tie lawsuit seen arsenic the authoritative commencement of Hollywood's movie awards season.

Fox, 61, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's illness astatine property 29 successful 1991, utilized Bruce Springsteen opus "No Surrender" to picture his conflict to find a cure for the degenerative upset of the brain.

"That is benignant of a idiosyncratic anthem of mine," said Fox, quoting the song's words from the podium: "No retreat, nary surrender."

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Governors Awards: Michael J. Fox to gain Academy humanitarian award; Diane Warren an Oscar

Presenting the award, longtime person Woody Harrelson said Fox "turned a chilling diagnosis into a courageous mission" by founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation to question a cure. The instauration has raised much than $1 cardinal for research.

"He ne'er asked for the relation of Parkinson’s advocate, but it is his champion performance," said Harrelson. "Michael J. Fox sets the eventual illustration of however to combat and however to live."

After receiving a lengthy lasting ovation connected his mode to the podium, Fox quipped to the audience. "You guys are going to marque maine shake."

"This is truthful cool," helium said, looking astatine the Oscar statuette.

The prima of "Family Ties" and "Back to the Future" gave affectional acknowledgment to Tracy Pollan, his woman of 34 years, for her enactment from the archetypal diagnosis. He struggled for words saying, "Tracy made it wide she was with maine for the duration."

Through each the difficulties and wellness setbacks caused by Parkinson's disease, Fox says the experience, the advocacy and the enactment for a cure person yet been rewarding.

"Parkinson's illness is the acquisition that keeps connected taking," said Fox. "But it genuinely has been a gift."

Following his speech, Fox called Pollan to the podium.

"I cannot judge I person been lasting present for this long, it's a miracle," said Fox, eying the dense trophy. "I cannot locomotion and transportation this thing. But I inquire Tracy to erstwhile again transportation the weight."

Cher gives Diane Warren archetypal Oscar

Cher, 76, joked "I'm the oldest idiosyncratic here" aft receiving applause for her quality connected the awards podium. The legendary performer of the deed "If I Could Turn Back Time" gave plaudits to the songwriter and caller honorary Oscar-winner.

Warren, 66, had acceptable an Oscar grounds for astir nominations (13) for 1 class (best archetypal song) without a triumph earlier clutching the honorary award.

Cher called Warren the "most prolific writer of my generation, of immoderate generation."

"I'm truthful thrilled to contiguous this to you," Cher said, handing Warren the Oscar. "You person waited truthful (expletive) agelong for this."

Warren attempted to clasp backmost from "ugly crying" giving acknowledgment from the podium.

"I've waited 43 years to accidental this, but I'd similar to convey the Academy," Warren said. "I get to accidental a speech. I person a batch of acceptance speeches I've written that I've had to crumple up successful my pocket."

Jeff Bridges presented Weir, 78, with the honorary Oscar. Bridges, 72, thanked the precocious histrion Robin Williams for urging him to enactment with the Australian manager for the archetypal clip connected 1993's "Fearless."

"Robin, you were close man," said Bridges astir Weir. "Everything you said was right."

Weir praised Williams, his prima successful 1983's "Dead Poet Society," who died successful 2014.

"Robin Williams, if lone I could person him backmost present for 5 minutes," said Weir.

Weir said that filmmaking was "like a journey. My unit knew it wasn’t astir my ego, oregon their egos, it was astir the film’s ego."

Palcy, 64, calved successful Martinique, French West Indies, was the archetypal Black pistillate filmmaker to nonstop a large Hollywood workplace film, 1989's "A Dry White Season," which earned Marlon Brando his last Oscar nomination.

The groundbreaking manager said she had taken a agelong interruption from filmmaking due to the fact that she was bushed of convincing studios that "Black is bankable, pistillate is bankable" astatine the movie container office. But seeing the occurrence of films similar "The Woman King" has shown Palcy that times person changed. She gestured to Viola Davis, who had presented her with the honorary Oscar award, prima of the container bureau hit "The Woman King."

"Come connected guys, look astatine my sister lasting with me. Black is bankable, pistillate is bankable. Black and pistillate is bankable," said Palcy. "My stories are not Black. My stories are not white. They are universal. They are poetry."

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Michael J. Fox lauded; Cher presents Diane Warren with archetypal Oscar