Kevin Spacey dedicates Golden Globe to director Stanley Kramer

Kevin Spacey has delivered a touching tribute to "one of the greatest filmmakers of all time", to whom he said he owed his Golden Globe award.

Eight-times nominated Spacey, who appeared on the red carpet arm-in-arm with co-star Kate Mara, claimed the Best Actor for a TV Series Drama award for his role in House of Cards.

But instead of celebrating, the 55-year-old actor took a moment to reflect on the life and work of four-time Golden Globe winner Stanley Kramer, who died in 2001 of pneumonia.

Spacey said the last time he saw The Pride and the Passion director, he was in a wheelchair and ill.

"As I was about to leave, I realised that I had never told him what I thought about his work – how much his work meant to me," Spacey said.

"I said to him, the films you made, the subjects you tackled, the performances you got out of some of the greatest actors that walked the face of the earth, the Oscars you won … (they) will stand the test of time and will influence filmmakers for all time."

Tearing up, Spacey recalled how he was not sure if the ailing filmmaker had understood his sentiments, until Kramer reached out and grabbed his hand.

"He said as clear to me as anything he had ever said, 'thank you so much for saying that, that means so much to me. I just wish my films could have been better.'

"So as I stand here tonight as someone who has enjoyed such an extraordinary career and in large measure because of the people in  this room, I just want to be better but this is very encouraging and thank you very much."