Tramell Tillman just made Emmy history, and he did it with a smile as unnerving and unforgettable as the character that got him there.At Sunday nights 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the Severance star won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Seth Milchick, a relentlessly chipper and quietly menacing workplace enforcer in the Apple TV+ psychological thriller.The win was historic on multiple fronts. Tillman, 40, became the first Black actor ever to win in the supporting drama actor category, a distinction no one had achieved in the 77-year history of the Emmy Awards. He is also the first openly gay Black man to ever be nominated for and win the award.A Long Time ComingWhile Severance was a breakout hit in 2022, earning 14 nominations in its debut season, Tillman was notably snubbed. That changed this year, as the series roared back with 27 nominations and industry-wide acclaim for its bold storytelling, emotional weight, and ensemble performances.In a crowded category, Tillmans win surprised some. He beat out fellow Severance castmates John Turturro and Zach Cherry, as well as a formidable lineup that included Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs and Sam Rockwell (all nominated for The White Lotus) and James Marsden (Paradise).Still, for many Emmy watchers, particularly queer and BIPOC viewers, the moment was long overdue.Tillmans Milchick is unlike any other character on television. Equal parts corporate cheerleader and psychological manipulator, he patrols the halls of Lumon Industries with an unsettling grin and quietly seething control. Its a role that could have easily been one-note. But Tillman brought nuance, intelligence, and a chilling sense of calm to the performance, turning Milchick into one of TVs most talked-about figures.A Seat at the TableTillman now joins an elite group of barrier-breaking Emmy winners. Viola Davis became the first Black woman to win Lead Actress in a Drama in 2015 for How to Get Away with Murder. Billy Porter made history in 2019 as the first openly gay Black man to win Lead Actor in a Drama for Pose.Now, with Tillmans win, the final acting category that had never honored a Black performer has finally been crossed off that list.His words echoed that sentiment onstage Sunday night, where he gave a moving tribute to his mother, whom he credited as his first acting coach. Mama, you were there for me when no one else was, he said. You told me to do the work, show up, and for the love of God, dont embarrass you in public. This is for you.Source