Established in 2002, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is one of the highest honors presented by the Television Academy's Board of Governors. 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. The award is given by the Television Academy and the Bob & Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation to a qualified individual in the television industry, whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry and whose deeds and actions have a lasting impact on society.
First presented to Oprah Winfrey at the 54th Primetime Emmys in 2002, one year before Hope died at age 100, the award is not given every year. Instead, an Academy committee screens candidates each year to determine whether anyone is qualified to receive the honor.
Hope, who began his career on the radio and the stage as a dancer and a comedian, eventually made his way to film and television, starring in The Big Broadcast of 1938, and later alongside his partners Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in the popular "Road to..." films. During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Hope frequently voyaged overseas to entertain troops in the field. In 1959 he was awarded the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Trustees' Award "for bringing the great gift of laughter to all peoples of all nations; for selflessly entertaining American troops throughout the world over many years; and for making TV finer by these deeds and by the consistently high quality of his TV programs through the years."
Sean Penn
2022 Honoree
George Clooney
2010 Honoree
Danny Thomas
2004 Honoree
Accepted on his behalf by Marlo Thomas
Oprah Winfrey
2002 Honoree
updated 11.16.22
