Emmys: Every age record that could be (or has been) broken by the 2023 acting nominees

Matthew Stewart
·3 min read
1
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

During the 2022 Creative Arts and Primetime Emmys ceremonies, two vastly different age records were broken as the acting victors accepted their prizes. First, 28-year-old Lee Yoo-mi (“Squid Game”) supplanted Samira Wiley (31, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” 2018) as the youngest recipient of either drama guest award, and then Jean Smart (70) improved upon her own oldest comedy actress winner record by clinching a second consecutive trophy for “Hacks.” With one age record having already been smashed at last weekend’s Creative Arts Awards, five more are up for grabs heading into the big primetime show.

Firstly, congratulations are in order for newly crowned Best Drama Guest Actress champ Storm Reid (“The Last of Us”), who, at 20, went from being her category’s third youngest nominee to its youngest winner. In fact, she is the all-time youngest recipient of any guest acting Emmy, also taking that distinction from Lee, who in turn usurped Justin Timberlake (28, “Saturday Night Live,” 2009). Two more “The Last of Us” guest nominees – Keivonn Montreal Woodard (10) and Lamar Johnson (29) – had chances to become their category’s youngest winner but ultimately lost to yet another actor from the same show, Nick Offerman (53). Offerman also blocked James Cromwell (83, “Succession”) from surpassing James Whitmore (78, “The Practice,” 2000) as the oldest male drama guest victor.

More from GoldDerby

Despite having come up short, Woodard’s nomination was monumental in that it made him the youngest male actor to ever compete for a Primetime Emmy. Overall, he places third behind then-seven-year-old actresses Keshia Knight Pulliam (comedy supporting, “The Cosby Show,” 1986) and Evelyn Rudie (single performance, “Eloise,” 1957). The only other 2023 contender who set a new age record just by being nominated is 84-year-old F. Murray Abraham, whose Best Drama Supporting Actor bid for “The White Lotus” makes him the oldest drama series regular to ever earn TV academy recognition.

If he prevails, Abraham would naturally supplant Ray Walston (81, “Picket Fences,” 1996) as the oldest winner in his category’s history. In the corresponding comedy race, Henry Winkler (78) of the recently concluded “Barry” has a shot at breaking his own high-end record, which he set by being honored for the same show’s inaugural season in 2018. Additionally, either Jeff Bridges (74, “The Old Man”) or Brian Cox (77, “Succession”) could overtake Richard Kiley (66, “A Year in the Life,” 1988) as the oldest Best Drama Actor winner, thus also surpassing Eugene Levy (73, “Schitt’s Creek,” 2020) as the oldest continuing series lead acting champion.

On the other side of things, two young lead actress nominees have their own shots at making history. After coming in as the second youngest Best Comedy Actress contender of all time, Jenna Ortega (21) can now take the category’s low-end win record from America Ferrera (23, “Ugly Betty,” 2007), while fourth youngest Best Drama Actress nominee Bella Ramsey (20) can similarly usurp Zendaya (24, “Euphoria,” 2020).

Although none of said six potential record breakers are shoo-ins, the fact that Reid already pulled out a widely unexpected, history-making victory makes all of their wins and associated achievements perfectly plausible.

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

SIGN UP for Gold Derby newsletters and updates

Best of GoldDerby

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.