Emmy Awards 2026: Matthew Rhys makes history with double win in two major categories

His first trophy of the evening was awarded for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology, or Television Movie for “The Beast in Me.” A few hours later, he was named Best Actor in a Comedy Series for “Widow’s Bay,” where he plays Mayor Tom Loftis.

This double win also elevates Matthew Rhys to the top of another unprecedented ranking. After winning the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 for “The Americans,” he is now the first actor to have won a lead performance award in all three major genres of the Emmy Awards: drama, comedy, and limited series.

Entertainment Weekly notes that no artist had previously won two lead awards on the same night. Additionally, Matthew Rhys is the first person since Stockard Channing in 2002 to receive two acting Emmy Awards during a single ceremony. Channing’s two victories were for supporting roles.

Matthew Rhys’s victory in the comedy category saw him compete against Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for “Wonder Man,” Steve Carell for “Rooster,” Jason Segel for “Shrinking,” and Martin Short for “Only Murders in the Building.” His win for “The Beast in Me” came ahead of Oscar Isaac, who was favored for “Beef.”

During his second appearance on stage at the Peacock Theater, the actor joked about receiving a new trophy so soon after the first. He particularly praised Katie Dippold, creator of “Widow’s Bay,” as well as the team behind this horror-comedy that premiered in the spring on Apple TV.

“Widow’s Bay” was among the standout shows of the 78th ceremony with 19 nominations. Before the main event, the series had already won eight awards at the Creative Arts Emmys and was further distinguished with wins for Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root in the supporting comedy categories.

Matthew Rhys’s double win occurred during the same ceremony that saw Jean Smart win for “Hacks” for the fifth consecutive time, another record set during the evening.