Call the Lumon marching band, Tramell Tillman just made history at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Severance star is the first Black man to win outstanding supporting actor in a drama series at the Emmys, taking to the Peacock Theater stage on Sunday to be honored for his sublime performance as complex antagonist Seth Milchick.
Tillman was applauded by his fellow nominees: Severance co-stars John Turturro and Zach Cherry, and The White Lotus' Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and Sam Rockwell, and Paradise's James Marsden. Movingly, the award winner spent his acceptance speech honoring one very important person.
"'You remember what you want to remember. You make time for what you want to make time for. Do the work. Show up. And most importantly, for the love of God, don't embarrass me in public.' My first acting coach was tough, y'all, but all great mothers are," said Tillman, acknowledging his mother sitting in the audience with the Severance cast — including fellow Emmy winner Britt Lower.
"Mama, you were there for me when no one else was and no one else would show up. Your loving kindness stays with me, and this is for you," he added.
According to Variety, it's the only acting category that had yet to award a Black actor since the Emmys began in 1949. The publisher also pointed out that the last time Black actors were nominated for supporting actor was in 2021: Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), and O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale) — Tobias Menzies won for The Crown. Tillman was not nominated for an Emmy for Severance Season 1.
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