Another remarkable honor for our intrepid founder! Michael J. Fox received the Television Academy’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in recognition of his transformative contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.
Michael was presented with the honor at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026, becoming only the sixth person to be recognized with the award.
Established in 2002, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award honors individuals whose philanthropic efforts exemplify Bob Hope’s own lifelong commitment to positive social impact. The award is given by the Television Academy and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation to an individual in the television industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought honor to the industry and whose contributions have made a lasting difference in society. First presented to Oprah Winfrey in 2002 — just one year before Hope died at age 100 — the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is among the Television Academy’s rarest honors. Rather than being awarded annually, recipients are chosen only when the Academy determines someone truly merits the distinction. In the 25 years since its inception, the award has been presented just five times.
Michael’s longtime friend, Foundation supporter and Emmy Award-winning actress Julianna Margulies introduced the honor, highlighting Michael’s career and longstanding commitment to advancing Parkinson’s research.
“Tonight we want to single out an individual whose contributions go far beyond his television credits. A man whose deeds and actions has had a lasting impact on society … I can think of no one more deserving of [the award] than Michael,” said Julianna.
The Television Academy aired a clip highlighting Michael’s impact both on television and within the Parkinson’s community, featuring the Foundation and its more than two decades of work to accelerate Parkinson’s research and improve the lives of people living with the disease. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is the world’s largest funder of Parkinson’s research and since 2000, has invested more than $3 billion in research.
“Michael J. Fox has taught us all how to fight and how to live. On screen, he has brought us joy, and with his Foundation, he has given hope to millions around the world,” the video said of his impact.
Upon receiving the award, Michael reflected on the legacy and influence of Bob Hope, after whom the award is named. He also reflected on his initial fears that his Parkinson’s diagnosis would change the way the world saw him and expressed gratitude for the support of his fellow actors throughout his career.
“Accepting Parkinson’s didn’t mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant I had to do everything I could for everyone living with this disease. I set out to advocate for Parkinson’s disease and raise money. I found brilliant people to lead the effort with me and vowed to fund the best science in the world,” said Michael. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to benefit Parkinson’s patients and families. We’re closer to eradicating this disease forever. I’m deeply grateful to our staff, donors, researchers and more so the patient community who make our work at The Michael J. Fox foundation possible.”
Michael also gave a shoutout to Debi Brooks, the Foundation’s Co-Founder and CEO, as well as his family and the contributions of the Sergey Brin Family Foundation, whose transformational support has advanced significant progress, including through the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative.
This honor comes shortly after Michael received the Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award for transformative leadership in Parkinson’s research and his 19th Emmy nomination this year for “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series” for his role on the Apple TV original series, Shrinking.
“Michael J. Fox is one of television’s most beloved and enduring performers whose work has left an indelible mark on generations of audiences,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy. “The Television Academy is proud to honor him for his extraordinary leadership in advancing Parkinson’s research, transforming public awareness and inspiring global support through The Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose investments have accelerated scientific breakthroughs and the search for a cure. He continues to exemplify compassion, courage and service, reflecting the power of one individual to drive meaningful change.”
For more than two decades, Michael has used his platform to transform the Parkinson’s landscape, bringing unprecedented visibility to the disease while helping accelerate research toward better treatments and a cure. Through his leadership and the collective efforts of the Parkinson’s community, The Michael J. Fox Foundation has funded more than $3 billion in transformative research programs around the world.