Michael J. Fox will receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at this year’s Emmys ceremony, as per Wednesday press release by the Television Academy. The award will serve as a symbol of the critically-acclaimed actor’s contributions to Parkinson’s awareness, advocacy and research.
“Michael J. Fox is one of television’s most beloved and enduring performers whose work has left an indelible mark on generations of audiences,” Cris Abrego, chair of the Academy, stated in the release. ““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.”
Fox began his acting career portraying the stalwart Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties, which then helped him land his breakout role as Marty McFly in 1985’s Back to the Future. Over the next thirty years, he would make appearances in hits like Teen Wolf, Homeward Bound, Spin City, and countless others. He even briefly had his own sitcom in the form of the eponymous The Michael J. Fox show, though it was cancelled after its first season in 2013.
Besides his acting, Fox has also become an inspiration to those worldwide suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that gradually afflicts the nervous system, resulting in tremors, dysarthria, and numerous other physical and mental symptoms. After publicly disclosing his diagnosis in 1998, Fox committed himself to raising awareness of the disease in hopes of finding a cure. Today, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has raised over two billion dollars to that exact end.
Even after his worsening symptoms forced him into retirement in 2020, Fox has continued his advocacy — and, where possible, his acting. In addition to his Humanitarian Award, this year also sees him nominated for his guest role in Season 3 of Apple TV’s Shrinking, which features Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones, The Secret Life of Pets 2) as Dr. Paul Rhoades, a therapist with Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s so human and it was accessible for me,” Fox told the Los Angeles Times about his guest role. After finishing season one, he called up his colleague and Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence to ask (in his words): “Bill, why the f— am I not on the show?”
Fox will receive his award during the 2026 Emmy Awards, which will be livestreamed on September 14th from Los Angeles. Television aficionados can catch the show live on NBC, or on the company’s streaming service Peacock.