Michael J Fox, 65, arrived on the red carpet for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night with his wife, Tracey Pollan, and their four children, ahead of receiving the ceremony's Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The Back to the Future star, who has battled Parkinson's disease since 1991, sat in a chair for photos on the carpet.
Fox posed alongside Pollan, 66, and their children Sam, 37, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 31, and Esme, 24. He wore a black suit and tie for the occasion.
Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award recognizes Fox's contributions to Parkinson's disease research and advocacy. The honor was established in 2002 to recognize a member of the television and telecommunications industry whose philanthropy reflects the decades of altruism shown by comedian Bob Hope.
Fox picked up his 19th Emmy nomination this year, for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on Shrinking. He is a five-time Emmy winner.
Returning to Acting With Parkinson's
Fox recently spoke about returning to acting while managing Parkinson's, which affects his ability to memorize lines. He was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at age 29, in 1991, and went public with the diagnosis before first retiring from acting in 2000. He later made cameo appearances on Scrubs and The Good Wife before stepping away from acting again in 2020.
Fox told People he un-retired sooner than expected because his character on Shrinking let him "show up on set" as himself. He said a new variable had emerged in his ability to memorize lines, adding that there is a time for everything, and the time for 12-hour workdays was behind him.
Fox joined the Harrison Ford-led series Shrinking for its third season earlier this year. The Apple TV show was created by his friend Bill Lawrence, and Fox said he appreciated the freedom to use how he feels on a given day and channel it into the scene. On the series he plays Gerry, who becomes friends with Ford's character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, who is also navigating a Parkinson's diagnosis.
Matthew Rhys Makes History
The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles and was hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, marking the first time in 15 years that a woman has hosted the Emmys. Nominations were announced in July, with Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney, The Bear's Jeremy Allen White, and Stranger Things among the most shocking snubs.
Widow's Bay won Outstanding Comedy Series, and its star Matthew Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the show and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me, making him the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night.
The Pitt and Hacks Lead Nominations
The Pitt led all shows with 25 nominations, nearly double the 13 it received last year, including 13 acting nods. The HBO Max medical drama won Outstanding Drama Series, and its star Noah Wyle won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Hacks followed closely with 24 nominations for its fifth and final season, the most ever for a comedy series, surpassing the previous record of 23 shared by The Bear and The Studio. Star Jean Smart won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a fifth Emmy for the show and eighth overall, tying her for the most Emmy acting wins by an actress in history.
Other Nominees and Total Numbers
Apple TV's Widow's Bay earned 19 nominations in its first season, while the streamer's drama Pluribus earned 18. Netflix's Beef led the limited and anthology series categories with 16 nominations for its second season, though DTF St. Louis won the category. On the broadcast side, Saturday Night Live led with 11 nominations.
HBO Max earned the most nominations of any platform with 122, including 13 for DTF St. Louis. In total, 555 programs were submitted across 14 categories this year, down 7.5% from 600 entrants last year, including 110 dramas, 71 comedies, 31 limited or anthology series, 34 movies, 18 variety series and 45 reality competition shows. The two Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies took place on September 5 and September 6.
Full List of 2026 Emmy Winners
- Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
- Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow's Bay
- Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Hacks
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Stephen Root, Widow's Bay
- Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
- Outstanding Variety Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Pluribus, Vince Gilligan for 'We Is Us'
- Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Widow's Bay, Katie Dippold for 'Welcome to Widow's Bay'
- Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Slow Horses, Saul Metzstein for 'Scars'
- Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Widow's Bay, Hiro Murai for 'Welcome to Widow's Bay'
