The Television Academy celebrated the 71st Emmy Awards on Sunday (Sept. 22) at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, recognizing excellence in primetime TV programming and individual achievements for the 2018-2019 television season. The night capped two weekends of awards as statues were handed out to winners in 97 other categories at the Creative Arts Emmys, held on Sept 14-15 also in Downtown L.A.
While we offer a hearty congratulations to all the winners and nominees — especially the Emmy-nominated CalArtians — we can’t help but feel a little sorry for CalArts alum Don Cheadle (Theater BFA 86) who was a little “down in the dumps”* after losing his ninth Emmy race. On Sunday, he was nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category playing “Mo” Monroe in Showtime’s comedy Black Monday, only to lose to Bill Hader in HBO’s Barry.
He was previously nominated for Emmys in the following roles and shows:
- 2015 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — as Marty Kaan in Showtime’s House of Lies
- 2014 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Cheadle as Marty Kaan in Showtime’s House of Lies
- 2013 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Cheadle as Marty Kaan in Showtime’s House of Lies
- 2012 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Cheadle as Marty Kaan in Showtime’s House of Lies
- 2003 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series — Cheadle as Paul Nathan on ER
- 2002 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie — as Chuck in Things Behind the Sun
- 1999 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special — as Grant Wiggins in A Lesson Before Dying
- 1999 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie — as Sammy Davis Jr. in The Rat Pack.
As viewers can see in the video above, even Cheadle’s House of Lies co-star Kristen Bell was astounded for his non-winning Emmy streak. He was quick to point out that he wasn’t that bothered, considering he has an Oscar at home (for Actor in a Leading Role for Hotel Rwanda, 2004).
“Do you have an Oscar?” Bell hilariously quips.
*The banter was obviously part of a scripted Emmys segment. But even if Cheadle were truly saddened by the loss, we think that he could take comfort in the fact that he’s appearing in an upcoming Ryan Murphy series called Ratched, starring Sarah Paulson; or that his last movie, Avengers: Endgame, which came out in April, has grossed $858,373,000 to date.