Oprah Winfrey to receive honorary Oscar

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Oprah Winfrey is set to receive an honorary Oscar.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the chat show host - who received an honorary degree in June from the University of the Free State in South Africa - will be awarded with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition of her extensive charity work.

The 57-year-old American - who supports a number of good causes, including Academy for Girls in South Africa, as well as her namesake foundations - will be presented with the accolade on November 12 at the third annual Governors Awards dinner and ceremony at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

Oprah was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Steven Spielberg's 'The Color Purple', in which she made her film debut in 1985, and she now runs her own TV network after 25 years of presenting her self-titled US talk show, which came to an end in May.

Actor James Earl Jones - who has appeared in more than 50 movies, which has seen him provide the voice of Darth Vader, as well as starring in 'Scary Movie 4' and 'Patriot Games' - and make-up artist Dick Smith, NBC's first make-up artist when he began his career in 1945, will also be awarded with honorary Oscars for their outstanding careers.