Michael J. Fox Accepts Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at Emmys to Huge Ovation
Michael J. Fox took the Emmy stage on Monday night to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
The five-time Emmy winner was recognised for transformative contributions to Parkinson's disease research and advocacy, according to Variety. The room gave him a huge ovation. He took it in stride.
He was introduced by Julianna Margulies, his co-star from legal drama The Good Wife. She presented the humanitarian honour before Fox spoke.
Fox disclosed his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1991 at age 29. In 2000 he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has since become a central funder and campaigner in the field.
In his speech, Fox thanked his wife, his family and Bob Hope himself. The audience stayed on its feet through much of it. It was one of the warmest receptions of the night.
Fox was at the ceremony as a nominee as well as an honouree. He was shortlisted for guest actor in a comedy series, an award for a brief appearance in a single episode or short arc, for his turn on Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking. That prize went posthumously to Rob Reiner.
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is chosen by the Television Academy and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, the Academy says. It was first given in 2002, with Oprah Winfrey as its first recipient, and went last year to Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, according to the Television Academy.
The Academy had named Fox as the 2026 honouree ahead of the 78th Emmy Awards, in an announcement carried by emmys.com on 29 July. The Michael J. Fox Foundation confirmed the honour at the time, citing his philanthropic leadership.
What makes this stand out is continuity. Fox has worked on television for more than four decades while living publicly with Parkinson's. On Monday night, the industry paused its contest for acting prizes to recognise that second job.
