The beloved broadcaster was named outstanding narrator during the first leg of a five-night run of the Creative Arts Emmys.
Attenborough was recognised for his work on acclaimed documentary series Seven Worlds, One Planet and the US TV academy described him as a “94-year-old icon”.
He could narrate the phone book and we'd be mesmerized. Congratulations to @televisionacad award winner Sir David Attenborough, Outstanding Narrator for #SevenWorldsOnePlanet! #Emmys pic.twitter.com/1ytYoRJrD4
— BBC America (@BBCAMERICA) September 15, 2020
Attenborough won the same award last year for Our Planet.
This time around he had to see off A-list competition in the form of actors Lupita Nyong’o, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Angela Bassett, as well as former professional athlete Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Other winners during the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards – which are staggered over a week this year due to the pandemic – included Netflix makeover show Queer Eye, which won outstanding structured reality programme.
HBO’s The Apollo won the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special prize.
The Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Sunday with a virtual ceremony anchored from Los Angeles.
