Michael J. Fox receives the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards

(CNN) - On Monday, the 78th Emmy Awards ceremony witnessed the honoring of famous television star Michael J. Fox with the Bob Hope Award for Humanitarian Work.

After a long and warm applause, Fox took to the stage to receive the award presented to him by his colleague in the series "The Good Wife", actress Julianna Margulies. He began his speech by praising Bob Hope, whose name the award bears, noting that he was a person of great importance to his family.

To his parents, Hope was more than just an entertainer, Fox said. He was a "dedicated advocate for soldiers and military families," like his own, for decades.

Fox added: "He embodied everything I believed in later in my life, and I learned a lot from his biography and example."

He pointed out that the lessons he learned from Hope resonated in his personal life when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, when he was only 29 years old. Fox expressed that he was deeply touched by the support he received from many in the hall that night, after he had been concerned about whether the audience would accept him and continue to support him after he publicly announced his illness.

The “Family Ties” star said: “It gave me the feeling that I could keep going; you guys stood by me, and I really appreciate that.”

He also expressed his pride in the progress he has made through his Michael J.

Fox's return to the stage marked his first appearance at the Emmy Awards in more than a decade, following his guest appearance in the third season of the series "Shrinking," a role for which he received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.