Beloved actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen turned the primary couple to collectively settle for a prestigious award from the Tv Academy honoring philanthropy at Sunday’s Emmy Awards.
Kristen Bell and Michael Schur offered the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award to the duo through the dwell telecast. Schur created “The Good Place,” which Danson starred in alongside Bell from 2016-20.
“There’s no honor that will imply extra to Mary and me than this one, and the truth that it’s been given to each of us means the world,” Danson stated.
“If it’s true that life is made up of two feelings, love and concern, the world’s just a little out of steadiness proper now,” Steenburgen added. “We don’t wish to dwell in concern, so we make ourselves helpful working for organizations that transfer the size away from concern and put us smack dab in the course of love.”
Whereas every actor has labored throughout a number of totally different organizations and causes each individually and as a pair, their philanthropic work sometimes pertains to environmentalism and conservation and advocacy for kids.
The award isn’t given out yearly, and there have been solely a handful of recipients because it was established by the Tv Academy in 2002. Previous recipients embody Oprah Winfrey, Danny Thomas (posthumously), George Clooney and Sean Penn. The award is bestowed on these within the media and leisure trade whose humanitarian work has made a profound impression, invoking the spirit of late comic Bob Hope’s philanthropy.
Danson and Steenburgen have “lengthy used their voices — and their hearts — to champion causes that uplift the planet and its folks,” stated Cris Abrego, chair of the Tv Academy, in a information launch when the recipients have been introduced.
“From environmental advocacy to humanitarian aid, they lead with grace, integrity and function,” Abrego’s assertion continued.
Danson, a longtime environmentalist and ocean conservation activist, co-founded the American Oceans Marketing campaign almost 4 many years in the past with the objective of alerting Individuals to hazards created by oil spills, offshore developments, poisonous wastes, sewage air pollution and different ocean abuses. Because the group merged with Oceana in 2001, Danson has served on its board of administrators and has testified earlier than the Home Committee on Nationwide Sources on behalf of the trigger.
Steenburgen is an advocate for growing funding for the humanities in American colleges. She served as a keynote speaker on the 2024 Ohio Faculty Boards Assn. Capital Convention, emphasizing the significance of the humanities in public colleges.
Danson and Steenburgen additionally co-founded the nonprofit Angels at Danger with activist Susie Spain in 2007. The group goals to handle drug and alcohol abuse in children, youngsters and households by pushing for early prevention training in all colleges and creating academic applications and providers designed to encourage communication between teenagers and fogeys.
The couple have additionally individually supported and labored with a number of different philanthropic organizations. For Danson, that has included organizations just like the ASPCA, Local weather U.S. PAC, Elton John AIDS Basis, Malaria No Extra and Younger Storytellers; Steenburgen has labored with Artists for a Free South Africa, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Basis, Heifer Worldwide and No Child Hungry.
Danson and Steenburgen are additionally sturdy supporters of the LGTBQ+ group, they usually not too long ago obtained the Nancy Pelosi Equality Ally Award on the 2024 Equality PAC Nationwide Pleasure Gala.
Danson, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, is greatest recognized for enjoying Sam Malone in “Cheers,” and for his position on “The Good Place.” Steenburgen, an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, has starred in “Parenthood,” “Melvin and Howard” “Elf” and extra. Danson is at the moment starring in Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” and Steenburgen is becoming a member of the comedy for its upcoming second season.
