In a truly remarkable achievement, Sir David Attenborough became the oldest person ever to receive a Daytime Emmy Award on Friday, just shy of his 100th birthday.
Attenborough, the beloved British naturalist and broadcaster, who is set to celebrate his centennial in May, claimed the Emmy for outstanding daytime personality – nondaily. His winning work was on the Netflix series “Secret Lives of Orangutans,” a project that delves into the lives of a multi-generational family of apes navigating their triumphs and challenges high in the Sumatran treetops.
This prestigious award ceremony, the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, took place in Pasadena, California. Attenborough, whose fellow nominees included notable figures like Martha Stewart and Anthony Mackie, was not present to accept his award, as reported by The Associated Press.
Beyond his personal win, “Secret Lives of Orangutans” also garnered additional Emmys for outstanding directing team for a single-camera daytime nonfiction program and for its exceptional music direction and composition, highlighting the profound impact and quality of the production.
Attenborough’s prolific career in documentary filmmaking spans decades, beginning in the 1950s. He is globally celebrated for his extensive work on wildlife, ecology, and climate change. His iconic contributions include the 1979 13-part series “Life on Earth,” the BBC’s “The Living Planet,” and Netflix’s eight-part series “Our Planet.”
This recent accolade marks Attenborough’s first Daytime Emmy, adding to his impressive collection of three Primetime Emmys and numerous nominations. His immense contributions were recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, who knighted him in 1985.
In a 2021 interview with an Australian publication, Signature Luxury Travel & Style, given before his 95th birthday, Attenborough shared his philosophy on retirement. He stated he would continue working as long as people wished to hear his voice. He affectionately described his career, saying, “I have the greatest job in the world. What a privileged time I’ve had. People provide me with wonderful pictures of things we’ve never seen before and ask me to write a sentence or two on it. Better than sitting in the corner knitting.”