Jeff Hiller. Photo: Philip Romano via Wikipedia Commons
Out gay actor Jeff Hiller’s victory in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards was one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Hiller, a long-time improviser and character actor, won for his role as Joel in the critically acclaimed HBO series Somebody Somewhere, beating out heavy hitters like Harrison Ford, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Bowen Yang.
His win was widely considered a surprise, as many pundits had predicted the award would go to Moss-Bachrach, who had won the previous two years for his work on The Bear. For Hiller, who has spent decades in the industry often playing smaller, unnamed roles—from “Hotel Clerk” to “Glee Club Guy”—the win was a career-defining moment.
In his acceptance speech, Hiller delivered a mix of humor and heartfelt emotion, joking that for 25 years, he had wanted to be an actor but the world had suggested “maybe computers.” He also expressed gratitude to HBO for “putting a show about sweaty middle-aged people on the same network as the sexy teens of Euphoria,” and thanked his husband and family “for never laughing at me.”
The win was particularly celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community, as Hiller’s nomination was part of a historic moment at the Emmys, with four openly gay men—Hiller, Bowen Yang, Michael Urie, and Colman Domingo—all nominated in the same category.
The reactions of Yang, Urie, and Domingo to Hiller’s win went viral, as they were seen genuinely cheering and celebrating his success, transforming what is often a moment of disappointment for nominees into a powerful display of community and support.
WATCH:
https://youtu.be/tlCot0WvUXg?si=B8DK2nJwWJL89uaf
