Matthew Rhys Just Won Two Lead Actor Emmys in the Same Night, Something No Man Had Ever Done

15 Sep 2026, 14:15 by Chrissy Stockton · Thought Catalog

UNIQUE NICOLE / AFP via Getty Images

Updated 18 minutes ago, September 15, 2026

Matthew Rhys took home both acting awards he was nominated for at the 2026 Emmys on Monday, September 14, becoming the first man to win 2 lead actor categories in the same year.

At NYA WEST in Hollywood on September 14, 2026, Matthew Rhys appears on the red carpet for Apple TV+’s Primetime Emmy Party. Photo by Monica Schipper / Getty Images.

The 51-year-old won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Mayor Tom Loftis in Widow’s Bay. He also earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me.

Rhys beat Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Martin Short in the comedy category. His limited series competition included Riz Ahmed, Jason Bateman, Charlie Hunnam, and Oscar Isaac.

At Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2026, the Outstanding Comedy Series winners for “Widow’s Bay” — Jeff Hiller, Matthew Rhys, Dale Dickey, and castmates — gathered in the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards press room. Photo by Amy Sussman / Getty Images.

After his second win, Rhys thanked the casts and crews behind Widow’s Bay, his family, and his home country. “Finally, to the great and good people of Wales who were just as much a nurturer as anyone else, we are a small but mighty nation,” he said.

The 2 awards bring Rhys to 3 Emmy wins from 8 career nominations. His previous victory came in 2018, when The Americans earned him Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

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