Tramell Tillman Makes Emmy History as First Black Man to Win Supporting Drama Actor
Tramell Tillman just etched his name in Emmy history.
On Sunday night, the Severance star took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first Black man ever to win in the category.
The milestone comes 77 years after the Emmys first began honoring TV excellence, making Tillman’s victory both long overdue and deeply meaningful. He won for his chilling yet oddly cheerful performance as Seth Milchick, the unnervingly upbeat floor manager in Apple TV+’s mind-bending drama Severance.
Tillman faced a tough lineup of competitors, including his own co-stars Zach Cherry and John Turturro, along with Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Sam Rockwell (The White Lotus), and James Marsden (Paradise). But when his name was called, the audience erupted, knowing the Emmy moment was bigger than just one win.
The 40-year-old actor also made history as the first openly gay Black man to earn a nomination — and a victory — in the supporting drama actor field. He now joins a legacy of trailblazers like Viola Davis, who became the first Black woman to win lead drama actress in 2015, and Billy Porter, who broke barriers as the first openly gay Black man to win lead drama actor.
What makes this win even sweeter? Tillman was overlooked during Severance’s first season in 2022, when the show scored 14 nominations. Fast-forward to 2025, the series racked up a whopping 27 nods, and Tillman finally got his well-deserved spotlight.
Speaking with Variety before the big night, Tillman reflected on the possibility of making history: “Do I feel a weight? No. I feel honored to join the legacy of these incredible storytellers.”
And he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Tillman recently shared the screen with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, and he’s already booked upcoming roles in Lena Dunham’s Good Sex opposite Natalie Portman and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
From Emmy newcomer to history-maker, Tramell Tillman is officially a name to watch.
