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Root Makes Emmys History at 74, Tops Winkler
19 Sep
Summary
- Stephen Root became the oldest actor to win a comedy supporting actor Emmy.
- Widow's Bay, a dark comedy, won a record 14 Emmys for a single season.
- Root credited his costars, director, and creator for the show's success.
Stephen Root achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 Emmy Awards, securing the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award at 74. This win makes him the oldest actor to receive this honor, surpassing Henry Winkler's record from 2018.
Root, who earned the award for his role as Wyck Crawford in "Widow's Bay," expressed surprise and gratitude backstage. He believes Winkler will be pleased to pass on the record, noting his colleague's kind nature.
The acclaimed dark comedy "Widow's Bay" dominated the ceremony, clinching a record-breaking 14 Emmys for a single comedy season, including Outstanding Comedy Series. Root highlighted the show's exceptional ensemble, crediting the entire team from production design to actors.
He also lauded creator Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai for their guidance, as well as costar Matthew Rhys. Root emphasized the importance of learning from talented peers like Rhys and Kate O'Flynn, who he described as incredibly funny and subtle actors.
Root shared that the cast focused on portraying "truth and reality" rather than strictly adhering to comedy or horror genres. This unified approach, he believes, allowed them to excel. He anticipates that "Widow's Bay" season two will delve deeper into character backstories.
