Michael J. Fox pays tribute to Bob Hope, reflects while accepting award
Actor and activist Michael J. Fox was presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award on Monday night.
The award is given to "an individual in the telecommunications industry whose philanthropic efforts exemplify Bob Hope's decades-long altruism and positive impact on society," according to the Television Academy website.
Fox thanked Julianna Margulies, who presented him the award, and spoke about the legacy the award's namesake, comedian and actor Bob Hope, left behind.
"When it starts to get tough, you show up. You help," he said.
Fox also touched on his Parkinson's diagnosis.
"Initially, I kept my Parkinson's diagnosis a secret," he said.
After he found support from his community, Fox said he "understood that accepting Parkinson's didn't mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant doing what I could for everyone living with this disease."
Fox also thanked his family for their support.
Fox was named this year's honoree for his "commitment to Parkinson's research" over the years. The actor was first diagnosed with Parkinson's in the early '90s and has been open about his health issues since announcing his diagnosis publicly in 1998.
Fox founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000. The nonprofit "is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today," according to its website.
In a July statement announcing Fox as this year's Bob Hope Humanitarian Award nominee, Television Academy chair Cris Abrego said the actor's work had "left an indelible mark on generations of audiences."
"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," Abrego said. "He continues to exemplify compassion, courage and service, reflecting the power of one individual to drive meaningful change."
