Aware of their compensatory functions, most recipients of Honorary Oscars are sensitive about it. Mickey Rooney, a four-time nominee, was given the 1983 Honorary Oscar, in recognition of his sixty-year career, which began at the age of two. Standing on the Oscar podium, Rooney recited all the awards he had recently received lest the Academy think it was doing him a favor.

Barbara Stanwyck, a four-time nominee, received an Honorary Oscar in 1982. It was presented to her by William Holden, who made his film debut with her in Golden Boy. These have all been sentimental, but touching, moments in the history of the award.

The recipient of the 1985 Honorary Oscar, Paul Newman, was absent from the ceremonies; he was filming in Chicago. One of the Academy's great losers, Newman had received six Best Actor nominations.

Over a short period of time, Garbo, one of the screen's greatest actresses, was nominated for four performances (two of which in the same year), but for one reason or another she never won. In 1954, Garbo received a Special Oscar for “unforgettable screen performances.” Living up to her reputation, the recluse actress didn't even bother to show up and the statuette was mailed to her home address.

Laurence Olivier received the 1946 Special Award for his first Shakespearean film, Henry V. “One of the greatest foreign films,” the citation stated, “no play of classic theatre was ever translated to celluloid with such faithful flawless art.” Olivier received Best Actor and Picture nominations for this film but did not win.