Sam Elliott won his first-ever Screen Actors Guild Award Sunday when he took home the prize for best male actor in a television movie or limited series.
The veteran actor beat out frontrunner Evan Peters, who was nominated for his role as Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix’s drama, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
“What can I say in 45 seconds, after just receiving the most meaningful acknowledgement of my 55-year career from a group of my peers?” Elliott said as he stepped on stage to accept his award. “Many of whom I don’t even know, or know only from afar as a fan who respects their work. Not time to say enough.”
The 78-year-old plays Shea Brennan in 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone. His win marks the first SAG Award he’s received over the course of his decades long career.
“After seeing the work of my fellow nominees, I’m not sure I should be standing up here, but I’m sure I’ll get over that,” he said during his speech.
When Elliott got on stage he pulled out a sheet of paper to read from because he “didn’t expect to be up here.”
“I do this because I didn’t expect to be up here. I only have 43 seconds to say this and I’ve already wasted a half of that.”
Although his loyal fans consider him to be one of the best in the business, Elliott has only won a handful of awards. Sunday night’s win was his first major award and to him the “most meaningful acknowledgement of my 55-year career” because his peers voted for him.
“”I’m gonna treasure this guy, this gal, because it comes from all of you, my brothers and sisters from SAG-AFTRA. I’ll treasure it as a constant reminder of 1883 and what a gift it was for all of us on both sides of the camera.”
In addition to thanking his fellow actors and actresses for recognizing his work, Elliott thanked the cast and crew of 1883, his team, and “my wife, my beautiful Katharine, my partner through thick and thin, and the mother of our beautiful daughter.”
Congratulations Sam Elliott! This award is well deserved!
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