Matthew Rhys makes Emmys history by winning two Best Actor awards

Sept. 14 (UPI) — Matthew Rhys made Emmy Awards history Monday night, winning two Best Actor statuettes in different categories.

Rhys picked up his first prize in the limited series or TV movie race for The Beast in Me, then, about an hour later, was back on stage to collect his second trophy in the comedy category for Widow’s Bay.

His Widow’s Bay cast-mates Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn won the Emmys for Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy. The show’s creator Kate Dippold went home with the Emmy for Best Comedy Writing and Hiro Murai earned the Best Comedy Directing prize for helming it.

The show also won for Best Comedy Series.

Another win for Matthew Rhys! ✨ pic.twitter.com/vK5HqztdLj— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 15, 2026

Allison Janney earned the honor for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for The Diplomat, which stars Rhys’ wife, Keri Russell.

Tom Pelphrey won for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Task, Sally Field won for Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie for Remarkably Bright Creatures and the Best Actress in a Comedy trophy was presented to Jean Smart for Hacks.

The Best Actress in a Drama prize went to Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus, which also won Vince Gilligan the Best Drama Writing Emmy.

Noah Wyle won for Best Actor in a Drama for The Pitt, which won for Best Drama Series.

DTF St. Louis was named Best Limited Series, Traitors was named for Best Reality Competition Program and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was voted Best Variety Show.

Mariska Hargitay hosted the gala, which is airing on NBC and Peacock.

Highlights of the telecast included the reunion between Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, who marked the 30th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Taylor Swift’s unexpected appearance with her cat in a pre-recorded sketch with Hargitay, Ice T and the rest of the Law & Order: SVU ensemble.

Michael J. Fox accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award and the show paid tribute to entertainers who died in the past year such as Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara and Rob Reiner.