LOS ANGELES -- Music legend Quincy Jones received an Academy Award two weeks after his death. And it got emotional.
Jones, who died Nov. 3 at age 91, was bestowed with the honorary Oscar by the Film Academy at the Governors Awards Sunday. Members of the music titan's still-grieving family accepted the award at the ceremony that featured a stirring song tribute led by Jennifer Hudson.
Casting director Juliet Taylor received an honorary Oscar, while British rom-com screenwriter and director Richard Curtis ("Love Actually," "Four Weddings and a Funeral") was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the sibling duo behind the illustrious James Bond movie franchise, received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for film producers.
RIP Quincy Jones: Music titan, legendary producer of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller,' dies at 91
The annual awards ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom Theatre marked the unofficial start of movie awards season, bringing out stars such as Jennifer Lawrence (with baby bump), Tom Hanks, Demi Moore, Kevin Costner, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Zoe Saldaña and Angelina Jolie.
The Governors Award honorees will be recognized at the 97th Oscars on March 2.
Jamie Foxx presented the posthumous award to "We Are the World" producer Jones, nailing an imitation that had Jones' family laughing through tears in their seats.
"I'm here to talk about a legend, a friend, an inspiration," said Foxx of Jones, who was nominated for seven Oscars and was the first Black composer to be nominated for best original song for his work in 1967's "In Cold Blood."
"When we hear Quincy's name, we simply think musical genius," said Foxx. "Truth is, the man had an equally powerful film world impact as a composer and a producer."
Jones's daughter, Rashida Jones, spoke for the assembled family members who surrounded the actress in support at the awards podium.
"Our father passed away two weeks ago today. He was really excited to attend tonight," said Jones, her voice often trembling in emotion. "It was a difficult decision for our family to be here tonight, but we felt like we wanted to celebrate his beautiful life and career."
Jones had been working on his Oscar acceptance speech for the past month, which his daughter read aloud from the podium.
"He loved life. He often said, 'Live every day like it's your last, and one day you'll be right,'" said Jones of her father. "And you did, dad. You lived the biggest, best, most beautiful life of love every single day you were here. In honor of our dad, do the same. Live with love. Lead with love. bring love to everything you do."
Hugh Grant insisted that screenwriter Curtis had tried to block his casting in his ultimate 1994 break-out "Four Weddings and a Funeral Role" after taking an "instant violent dislike to me." Nonetheless, Grant paid tribute to Curtis' "repulsively successful career," which has included box office smash hit collaborations such as "Love Actually" (2003) and the "Bridget Jones" film series.
Curtis was honored for his career philanthropy, which has included organizing Comic Relief, the global TV fundraisers that have raised $2.5 billion, according to the Julia Roberts-narrated film tribute before the award presentation.
"Anyway, while all this was going on, not content with saving the British film industry, (Curtis) decided to try and save the whole bloody world," said Grant of Curtis' philanthropy work. "It was something I found annoying because there I would be in one of the lulls in my career because of some flop or some arrest or whatever. I'd be frankly desperate for Richard's next film, and I'd be told, 'I'm sorry, he's away for a year in Africa saving starving children.' I found that annoying and frankly selfish."
The comedy writer jokingly returned fire from the podium, saying presenter Grant couldn't hide his "infamously unsatisfactory character" when giving the award -- due to poor acting skills.
"It probably would have been beyond his scope," Curtis said of Grant's ability to act with kindness. "I do recommend his new film. It's this documentary called 'The Heretic.'"
Longtime James Bond actor Daniel Craig presented the producers' honorary Oscar to Broccoli and Wilson.
"Let's get this out of the way; we all came here to find out who the next James Bond is," said Craig. "He may be in this room."
The producing duo's father, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, launched the James Bond franchise in 1962 and received the same award in 1981.
"Barbara and Michael, in their four decades of shepherding this franchise, have not only burnished its legacy," said Craig. "They took what their father created and made it even better."
Broccoli remembered her father receiving the honorary Oscar in 1981.
"A farm boy who made good in Hollywood, this award was his most valued possession," said Broccoli. "My father was, and will always be, my North Star. Thank you, daddy, for giving me the greatest life imaginable."