Originally appeared on E! Online
Tramell Tillman’s outie is grateful for his mom.
As the “Severance” actor won gold at the 2025 Emmy Awards — hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Sept. 14 — he began a speech with a quote from his mom, who looked on from the audience with pride.
“‘You remember what you want to remember,’” Tillman quoted from the stage. “‘You make time for what you want to make time for. Do the work, show up, and most importantly, for the love of God, don’t embarrass me in public.’”
The actor — who made history as the first Black man to win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — cheekily added, “My first acting coach was tough, y’all. But all great mothers are.”
After the audience’s laughter died down, the camera panned to the 40-year-old’s mom, who held her hand to her chest and watched him tearfully.
“Mama, you were there for me when no one else was and no one else would show up,” Tramell continued. “Your loving kindness stays with me, and this is for you.”
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He concluded, “Thank you to the academy. I am full. I am humbled. I am honored. And as my mama would say, ‘Look at God!’”
And while Tramell — who was nominated alongside his costars Zach Cherry and John Turturro — was sure to give a heartwarming acknowledgement to his mom from stage, he gushed about her on the red carpet, too.
“It’s a dream,” he told “Live From E!: 2025 Emmys” host Zuri Hall of bringing his mom to the award ceremony. “She’s the reason that I’m here in so many ways, and to be able to have this moment — to bring her here — I think it’s such a lesson.”
In fact, he explained that it’s an eye-opening experience for her, adding, “She now sees what I do and understands, ‘Oh, when you’re on a press tour, this is what a press tour looks like.”