JJ Abrams was honoured at last night's International Emmy Awards ceremony (November 25).

The Lost and Alias co-creator was presented with the coveted Founders award, which recognises people who have crossed cultural boundaries in television.

Star Trek star Zachary Quinto presented Abrams with the prize, to which he said: "I feel unworthy."

He said: "Why would the Academy make this choice? Then it hit me. Back in 1993 my dad was in Cannes with the [future International Emmy CEO] Bruce Paisner.

"I was suspicious about this connection. They were at a lunch and Bruce's chair got caught and he fell into the sea."

He joked that his father threatened Paisner because he "desperately wanted to see his son up here tonight."

Abrams also thanked Paisner, his father, producer and ex-Hearst Entertainment executive Gerald Abrams, and his mother Carol Ann Abrams, who died in 2012.

He continued: "I feel genuinely grateful [for this honour]. It's a privilege to work in the television medium."

Simon Cowell, Steven Spielberg and Sir David Frost are among the past winners of the Founders award.

JJ Abrams is currently working on the upcoming seventh instalment of the Star Wars series of films.

The Returned and Sean Bean were among the winners at this year's International Emmy Awards.

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