Good job, Mr. Milchik. You just made history.
For his chilling performance as the hypnotic and unnervingly cheerful Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s genre-defying drama “Severance,” Tramell Tillman won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series, becoming the first Black man ever to win in the category. It was the only acting field that had yet to honor a Black performer in the Emmys’ 77-year history.
Tillman pulled off a stunning victory over his fellow co-stars Zach Cherry and John Turturro, as well as Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs and Sam Rockwell from “The White Lotus,” and James Marsden from “Paradise.”
The 40-year-old joins a legacy of trailblazing actors who have broken barriers in their respective categories. In 2015, Viola Davis became the first Black woman to win lead drama actress for “How to Get Away with Murder.” Billy Porter later made history as the first openly gay Black man to be nominated for — and win — in a lead acting category. Tillman, in turn, is the first openly gay Black man to earn a nomination and a victory in supporting drama actor.
Tramell Tillman wins Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the #Emmys for #Severance, dedicating the honor to his mom. pic.twitter.com/R3nMGF2MKR
— Variety (@Variety) September 15, 2025
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Notably, Tillman was overlooked during the show’s first season in 2022, when “Severance” earned 14 nominations. This year, the series surged to the front of the pack with 27 nods.
In his Variety cover story in August, Tillman spoke about the potential of making history and whether or not he felt the weight of the honor, saying: “Do I feel a weight? No. I feel honored to join the legacy of these incredible storytellers. I’m ambitious and would love an Emmy, but I’ve learned it’s not up to me.”
The supporting drama actor category, formally established in 1970, has seen 13 Black actors accumulate 23 nominations across the decades. The last time a Black performer was nominated was in 2021, when Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”), O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”) made history with a record three nominations in one year.
Since then, actors of color from around the world have made their mark on the category, including “Squid Game” stars Park Hae-soo and O Yeong-su in 2022, Will Sharpe of “The White Lotus” in 2023, and “Shōgun” duo Tadanobu Asano and Takehiro Hira in 2024.
This past year, Tillman shared the screen with Tom Cruise in the summer blockbuster “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” and has become a breakout star. Upcoming for the Maryland-native are roles in Lena Dunham’s “Good Sex” opposite Natalie Portman and an undisclosed role in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
From Variety US