Much like Seth Milchick, the character he plays on Severance, Tramell Tillman has a very good reason to smile.
On Sunday, Tillman won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on the hit Apple TV+ series—which turned out to be a historic moment for the actor and Hollywood at large. Tillman is the first Black actor to go home with the statue for that particular category, which has been around since 1954.
Until Sunday, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series was the only acting-based Emmy category that had yet to be won by a Black performer.
Tillman sat down with Entertainment Tonight shortly after his victory to unpack his triumphant moment. The 40-year-old actor seemed momentarily stunned when ET host Nischelle Turner remarked on the importance of his win.
“Are you wrapping your brain around the fact that you also made history tonight? You made history as the first Black man to ever win in this category,” she said. “And from what I’m being told… the first gay man to ever win in this category as well.”
Tillman seemed at a loss for words, but replied with a simple: “Wow. Wow. What a night.”
Turner pressed further, asking “What does that mean to you… to be a trailblazer in this category?”
“Well I remember doing the research and knowing the Black men that had been in that category before me, like Ossie Davis, Michael K. Williams, and Andre Braugher,” Tillman replied. “These were people that I watched, and studied their work. So it’s an honor to be included with these men. And, again, just to be in this category; to be considered: I don’t take it lightly, I hope I’m not ‘the only,’ and I hope that this opportunity just continues to open doors. For many people who look and love like me.”
