A special Oscar to go to Lansing

Sherry Lansing, the former chairwoman of Paramount Motion Picture Group, was named Thursday to receive a special Oscar at the Academy Awards ceremony Feb. 25.

Lansing, 62, will be given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition of her work on behalf of numerous causes, including fighting cancer, the Red Cross, stem cell research and the Carter Center, a human rights organization. She also is a regent of the University of California.

“Sherry has earned enormous respect throughout the industry not only for her successful career as a producer and studio head, but because she has never failed to further devote her enormous energy to the needs of others,” said Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The academy also will bestow an honorary Oscar on Ennio Morricone, the prolific film composer who created music for more than 300 films, such as the memorable coyote-howl theme from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Morricone, 78, received Oscar nominations for his scores for “Days of Heaven,” “The Mission,” “The Untouchables,” “Bugsy” and “Malena,” but has never won.