At 99, the legendary naturalist earns a historic Daytime Emmy for Netflix’s “Secret Lives of Orangutans,” surpassing Dick Van Dyke’s record.
Legendary British broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough has set a new milestone at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, becoming the oldest winner in the ceremony’s history at age 99.
Attenborough took home the award for Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily for his Netflix documentary “Secret Lives of Orangutans.”
The win surpasses the previous record held by Dick Van Dyke, who was 98 when he earned a Daytime Emmy last year for his guest role on “Days of Our Lives.” Attenborough’s victory marks another career highlight in his nearly 70-year journey as one of the most influential voices in natural history broadcasting.
“Secret Lives of Orangutans” also earned two additional Emmys, including Best Directing Team for a Single Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program, giving Netflix three awards for the documentary. The film follows a community of orangutans in Sumatra, centered on Eden, an 8-year-old orangutan navigating a crucial stage of her life.
Attenborough, who turns 100 next May, triumphed over nominees including Anthony Mackie (“Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie: Gulf Coast”), Martha Stewart (“Martha Gardens”), Brad Bestelink (“Living with Leopards”), and the team behind “The Fixers.”
Renowned for his decades-long dedication to documenting the natural world, Attenborough first gained fame with 1954’s “Zoo Quest” and went on to narrate acclaimed series such as “Planet Earth,” “Blue Planet,” “The Green Planet,” and “Wild Isles.”
The 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony took place Friday, Oct. 17, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, celebrating excellence in daytime television and honoring one of the greatest storytellers of the natural world.
