Iconic Hollywood duo Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will become the first couple ever to jointly receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2025 ceremony.
In a landmark moment for the Emmy Awards, after nearly 30 years of marriage, their shared journey of compassion, activism, and social impact is finally being honored on one of television’s biggest stages.
More Than a Love Story: A Legacy of Giving
From red carpets to relief efforts, Danson and Steenburgen have used their public profiles to spotlight urgent global issues—turning celebrity into service.
Ted Danson, long-time ocean activist, co-founded the American Oceans Campaign, now part of Oceana, pushing for marine conservation and cleaner oceans. He’s also supported the ASPCA, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and more.
Mary Steenburgen, an Academy Award-winning actress, lends her voice to causes like No Kid Hungry, Artists for a Free South Africa, and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Together, they co-founded Angels at Risk, supporting families impacted by addiction, and have been outspoken supporters of LGBTQ+ rights.
A Historic First for the Emmys
This joint recognition marks a first in Emmy history—a humanitarian award shared by life partners. Television Academy Chair Chris Abrego described the couple’s advocacy as “a beacon of hope” and praised their lifelong commitment to causes that “uplift our planet and its people.”
Beyond the Screen
While they’re known for their enduring onscreen appeal—Danson with Cheers and The Good Place, Steenburgen with her Oscar-winning role in Melvin and Howard—the couple’s true collaboration has always unfolded offscreen. They’ve even acted together in TV movies like It Must Be Love and Gulliver’s Travels, but it’s their off-camera impact that leaves the deepest impression.
Why It Resonates Now
Trailblazing Couple: The first shared Bob Hope Award in Emmy history.
Decades of Activism: A lifetime of aligned humanitarian work.
A Modern Model: Proof that star power and social power can coexist—and create change.
Closing Thought
Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen aren’t just being honored—they’re redefining what it means to be a couple in Hollywood. Not merely partners in art, but co-pilots in purpose, their Emmy milestone is a tribute to love in action—graceful, generous, and ever-inspiring.
