George Clooney to get humanitarian Emmy award

Image caption, George Clooney is being honoured for his work in Darfur and Haiti

Hollywood star George Clooney will receive an Emmy award for his humanitarian efforts, it has been announced.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will present the 49-year-old actor with the prestigious prize, named after the late comic-actor Bob Hope.

Chairman of the TV academy John Shaffner said Clooney was "an obvious choice" for the award.

He is the fourth recipient of the trophy and will receive it next month.

Past winners of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award include Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby.

Clooney is being honoured for the Hope for Haiti US TV special - which has also been nominated for an Emmy.

The star hosted the telethon, which took place in January.

He has also been heavily involved in raising funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and helping to increase awareness about genocide in Darfur.

The 62nd Emmy Awards will take place on 29 August in Los Angeles.