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In a history-making moment for the Emmys, beloved Hollywood couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will be jointly awarded the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award this September. It marks the first time the honour, traditionally reserved for individuals, will be bestowed upon a couple, recognising their collective philanthropic impact and tireless advocacy for causes benefiting people and the planet.
Celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this October, Danson and Steenburgen are as celebrated for their off-screen activism as they are for their on-screen accomplishments. According to the Television Academy, the duo exemplifies the "extraordinary legacy of service" the award seeks to recognise. Cris Abrego, Chair of the Academy, noted that the pair have consistently used "their voices and their hearts" to promote change.
Ted Danson, best known for his role in the long-running sitcom Cheers, has been an environmental advocate for decades. He cofounded the American Oceans Campaign in 1987, long before climate action became a global movement. The initiative, which aims to combat the environmental degradation of the oceans, merged with Oceana in 2001, expanding its reach. Danson also supports other organisations such as the ASPCA and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Mary Steenburgen, an Academy Award-winning actress, has been equally committed. Her advocacy spans issues from child hunger to racial justice. She's worked with Artists for a Free South Africa and has supported the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She's also a vocal supporter of the No Kid Hungry initiative, which combats food insecurity among American children.
Together, the couple founded Angels at Risk, a nonprofit focusing on families affected by substance abuse. Their efforts extend to supporting LGBTQ+ rights and promoting mental health awareness.
The two have appeared in several productions together, including Gulliver's Travels and It Must Be Love, blending professional collaboration with their real-life partnership. Their enduring relationship and shared commitment to activism have made them a fixture in Hollywood's social responsibility landscape.
With their combined efforts spanning environmental, social, and humanitarian causes, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen represent the type of enduring impact the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award honours. Their legacy is not only written in scripts and screenplays but in the lives they have touched far beyond the world of television.
As they take the stage at the Emmys, they'll do so not just as actors, but as true humanitarians.
