Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award Monday evening at the 78th Emmy Awards, drawing a lengthy standing ovation as he was honored for his decades of work supporting Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.
Actress Julianna Margulies, Fox’s former “The Good Wife” co-star, introduced a video montage chronicling his television and film career before Fox was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair at the Peacock Theater.
“First of all, thank you to Julianna,” Fox said. “You’re so kind. You’re such a great acting partner, and had a great time on that show.”
Fox then reflected on Bob Hope and the influence the legendary entertainer’s humanitarian work had on him.
“First, a few words about Bob Hope,” Fox said. “My parents were born during the Great Depression, campaigns during World War II. To them, Bob was more than an entertainer; he was a selfless champion of soldiers and military families like mine for decades. Christmases, Thanksgivings, other holidays where he could have been celebrating with his family, he was showing up for the troops in Berlin, Saigon, the Middle East, with a turkey leg and a golf club, and maybe if you’re lucky, Lola Falana.”
Fox said Hope’s example would take on greater significance in his own life.
“He embodied everything I came to believe in years later. I learned from his example. When it starts to get tough, you show up, you help, and if you add a little joy while you’re doing it, that’s so you know it’s even better,” Fox said.
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 but initially kept the diagnosis private, concerned about how it would affect his career and his relationship with audiences. He publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998.
“Initially, I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences. Would they laugh if they knew I was sick?” Fox said.
But Fox said the response he received after disclosing his condition changed his outlook.
“Then I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifting … and I hadn’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me,” Fox said.
“I understood that accepting Parkinson’s didn’t mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant doing whatever I could for people living with this disease. So I set out to advocate for patients’ needs.”
Fox founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000. The organization has become the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research.
“I found brilliant people to lead the effort with me and vowed to fund the best science in the world. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to benefit Parkinson’s patients and families as we move closer to eradicating this disease forever,” Fox said.
Fox concluded by thanking his wife, Tracy Pollan, their four children and other members of his family.
“Now the part where I thank Tracy and our kids for their sacrifices, for their patience, and for their love — you have no idea — and of course, my mom and dad, and my sisters and brother in Canada,” Fox said. “Now where’s Lola Falana?”
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was established in 2002 to honor a member of the television industry whose philanthropic efforts exemplify Hope’s “decades-long altruism and positive impact on society,” according to the Television Academy. The award is given by the Academy and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation.
Fox received his 19th Emmy nomination this year for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for “Shrinking.” He is a five-time Emmy winner, earning three of the awards for his portrayal of Alex P. Keaton on NBC’s “Family Ties,” the sitcom that vaulted him to fame in the 1980s.
He subsequently won Emmys for ABC’s “Spin City” and for a guest performance on FX’s “Rescue Me.”
The Canadian-born actor parlayed his “Family Ties” fame into a successful film career that included the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Teen Wolf,” “The Secret of My Success,” “Casualties of War” and “Doc Hollywood.”
Fox received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010 and promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in June.
Previous recipients of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award are Oprah Winfrey, Danny Thomas, George Clooney, Sean Penn, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.