Awards, honours and citations given to Luise Rainer:
Famously, Luise was the first actor to win the Academy Award two times in a row, but, over the course of her 104 years she was also honoured by other organisations for her film work, her art and her humanitarian efforts. I have included below all such honours and would welcome details of any omissions.
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
Award: Academy Award (Oscar statuette)
1936: Best Actress in a Leading Role (for The Great Ziegfeld)
1937: Best Actress in a Leading Role (for The Good Earth)
At one time Luise owned three Oscar statuettes. The award she received for The Good Earth was used as a door-stop and suffered as a result, being bent over and shabby. The Academy replaced this with a new award; the original was reportedly given in lieu of payment to a plumber who did some work for Luise at her home in Lugano, Switzerland.
Award: A Salute to Luise Rainer
1983: Retrospective salute, interview and screening of The Good Earth
The American Institute of Cinematography
Award: Honorary Membership (plaque)
1937: for ‘Miss Louise [sic] Rainer for her distinguished performance in the motion picture The Good Earth’
Boulevard der Stars
Award: Star on the Boulevard der Stars, Berlin
2011: Luise attended the unveiling of her star on 5 September 2011, aged 101. The star was the result of a campaign by Berlin resident Paul Baylay.
China Relief Legion
1940: Award of Recognition
This award recognised Luise’s membership of the China Relief Legion. She was presented with a certificate signed by Madame Chiang Kai-shek.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Award: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1960: Luise was one of the inaugural honourees when the famous Walk of Fame was opened. Her star is 6302 Hollywood Boulevard.
International Mark Twain Society
Date Unknown: elected as a ‘Daughter of Mark Twain’
The International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House
Award: The George Eastman Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Art of Film (medal)
1982: Presented on November 5th at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House as part of The 1982 Festival of Film Artists.
The Lahr von Leïtis Academy and Archive
Honorary Artistic Director of Elysium – Between Two Continents
2010 Award: The Erwin Piscator Award for Lifetime Achievement
Military Awards
1944: Honorary Appointment to the 86th Fighter Group, US Air Force
Motion Picture Critics of America
1936: for her performance in The Great Ziegfeld (gold medal)
New Orleans
Date Unknown: Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans
Rosenhügelgala
1992: The Rosenhügel Award (glass dome with roses)
You can see Luise accepting this award here.
Society of the New York Hospital
1950: Membership of the Society conferred upon Luise
United Airlines
Date Unknown: Luise received the United Airlines engraved plaque recognising her membership of the 100,000 Mile Club: ‘In Appreciation of Your Valuable Contribution to Air Transport Progress”.
Other Awards and Citations
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Date unknown)
The Sovereign Order of Alfred the Great (Date unknown)
Luise Rainer 