The Television Academy awarded actors Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award during the Emmys ceremony Sunday evening.
The couple, who he been married since 1995, received one of the Academy's highest honors, awarded to those in the entertainment industry committed to philanthropy work similar to late actor Bob Hope's efforts.
“Together, Ted and Mary are an unstoppable force, both on screen and off,” said Kristen Bell, who presented the award with Michael Schur.
In a video compilation highlighting the couple's work, photos and videos showcased Danson and Steenburgen volunteering with organizations like Oceana and No Kid Hungry, as well as supporting arts funding in schools and being an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. The two started Angels at Risk, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing drug and alcohol abuse in teens and families through education.
Accepting the award alongside his wife, Danson said, “There’s no honor that would mean more to me and Mary than this one."
The two each explained what the award would he meant to their parents, who could see that they’re “living the lives they taught us to live.”
“If it’s true that life is made up of two emotions, love and fear, the world is a little out of balance right now. But we don’t want to live in fear,” Steenburgen said, adding that they aim to work “smack dab in the middle of love.”
The award, which began in 2002, has only been presented a number of times, with past recipients including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Sean Penn.