Emmys 2026 recap: See the winners, emotional tributes and biggest moments

Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage to share words on Rob Reiner's legacy.

"He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all. And we all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year," Curtis said.

She also shared that with his posthumous Emmy win for his performance in "The Bear," Rob Reiner had broken the record for longest gap between acting Emmys, a title previously held by his dad, Carl Reiner.

The legendary filmmaker and his wife, a photographer and movie producer, were found stabbed to death in their family home in December 2025. The couple's son, Nick Reiner, was charged with the murders of his parents.

Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty to murder charges and remains held on no bond. He is next due in court on Sept. 15 for a pretrial hearing. No trial date has been set.

Noah Kahan performed "Bridge Over Troubled Water" during the "In Memoriam" segment.

The segment honored stars and others in the TV industry who have died over the past year, including Eric Dane, Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, James Burrows and Bob Mackie.

Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy and Annie Murphy took the Emmys stage together to honor Catherine O'Hara, who died in January.

Culkin said "the word that I think of" with O'Hara is "mama."

"She was all of our mom," he said, adding, "By the way, call your mother tonight."

Levy, O'Hara's "Schitt's Creek" co-star, said, "The greatest lesson I learned from Catherine, both professionally and personally, was to always say yes."

"Say yes [to the] TV character over the age of 60 that wears leather miniskirts and 8-inch heels and speaks in a strange, sometimes unintelligible trans-Atlantic accent, and know that she will not 'scare an audience away,'" he continued. "Say yes to that rewrite she emails you, sometimes the night before. 'Dear Dan, some thoughts.' It will always improve the story."

After winning the Emmys for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series and outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie, Matthew Rhys reacted to the moment by saying he hoped the celebrations to follow would be "long, varied, and I hope, at times, wild."

"It certainly hasn't sunk, sunk in," Rhys told reporters. "[I'm] stumbling for words, because I really don't have them at the moment ... I really can't quite believe it."

Rhys' wins make him the first male to win two lead actor categories in the same year.

The actor, who is from Wales, added that he was proud to represent the country and "put our flag in the map."

Rhys' wife, Keri Russell, was also nominated this year for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her performance in "The Diplomat."