The 2025 Emmy Awards ceremony was a night of historic achievements, celebrating two remarkable acting triumphs. Tramell Tillman and Owen Cooper each etched their names into the Emmy annals with landmark wins in their respective categories.
Tillman, recognized for his captivating role as Seth Milchick in Apple TV+’s acclaimed series ‘Severance’, secured the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This victory is particularly significant as it marks the first time a Black man has ever won in this category, which was established in 1970. Despite 13 Black performers receiving nominations across 23 instances in the past, Tillman’s win breaks a decades-long barrier.
His portrayal of the unsettlingly cheerful Milchick captivated audiences and critics alike, standing out amongst a strong field of nominees. This group included his ‘Severance’ co-stars Zach Cherry and John Turturro, along with Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and Sam Rockwell from ‘The White Lotus’, and James Marsden of ‘Paradise’.
Tillman, a Maryland-born actor who is also openly gay, expressed deep honor in a recent interview. He articulated that he felt no burden, but rather immense pride in joining the esteemed legacy of incredible storytellers who have paved the way.
In stark contrast, Owen Cooper, at just 15 years old, represented the youngest generation of talent. The British newcomer was celebrated for his breakout performance as Jamie Miller in Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’. His win for Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series established him as the youngest male acting winner in Emmy history. Cooper triumphed over seasoned veterans such as Javier Bardem (‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’), Rob Delaney (‘Dying for Sex’), Peter Sarsgaard and Bill Camp (‘Presumed Innocent’), and his co-star Ashley Walters.
During his acceptance speech, a visibly moved Cooper shared his disbelief: “Standing up here is just so surreal. Honestly, when I started these drama classes a couple years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, let alone here.”
While Cooper’s achievement is a generational milestone, the overall record for the youngest Emmy winner still belongs to Roxana Zal, who was 14 when she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for ‘Something About Amelia’ in 1984. Cooper’s career is rapidly advancing, with upcoming roles in BBC’s ‘Film Club’ and as Young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’.