The 2025 Emmy Awards made history when Owen Cooper, age 15, became the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy.
He earned the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his role in Adolescence. The ceremony took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Cooper’s win broke a record that had stood since 1973, when Scott Jacoby won at age 16. The youngest Emmy winner overall remains Roxana Zal, who was just 14 when she won in 1984. Cooper beat out well-known actors like Javier Bardem, Bill Camp, and Peter Sarsgaard.
In his speech, Cooper said he only began acting classes a few years ago. He encouraged viewers to “step out of their comfort zones,” adding, “A couple years back I didn’t expect to be in the United States, let alone here.”
The night also brought other historic wins. Tramell Tillman of Severance became the first Black actor to win Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. He thanked his mother, calling her his “first acting coach.”
Stephen Colbert’s Late Show won Best Talk Series for the first time, just months after CBS announced it would be ending in 2026. Colbert used his stage time to joke about job hunting for himself and his staff.
Another big moment came when actor Noah Wyle finally won an Emmy after five nominations. He dedicated his win for The Pitt to real-life doctors and nurses working in emergency rooms.
This year’s Emmys also featured playful rules from host Nate Bargatze, who promised donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America depending on how long or short winners’ speeches were. In the end, over $350,000 was pledged.
