'Thank you for your courage': Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor, 71, dedicates Emmy win to transgender community... and almost breaks down when thanking wife

By Mike Larkin For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:01 EST, 21 September 2015 | Updated: 02:18 EST, 21 September 2015

He had been waiting 23 years to finally win an Emmy.

And emotional Jeffrey Tambor almost broke down when thanking his wife when he collected his award for outstanding actor in a comedy for his turn in Transparent on Sunday.

The 71-year-old also dedicated his award to the transgender community, thanking them both for their courage and for sharing their experiences with him as he sought to bring the character of Maura Pfefferman to life.

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A man trans-formed: Jeffrey Tambor won his first Emmy 23 years after being nominated for his first for his turn in Transparent on Sunday

A man trans-formed: Jeffrey Tambor won his first Emmy 23 years after being nominated for his first for his turn in Transparent on Sunday

Jeffrey said: 'Thank you to my lovely wife, Kasia. The reason - I wouldn't even be standing here (without her).'

The esteemed thespian married Kasia Ostlun back in 2001, and had previously been wed to Katie Mitchell from 1991 until 2000, when they divorced.

He then went on to explain the gratitude he owes to the community for helping him understand how to play a retired college professor who has finally opened up to her family about always identifying as a woman.

The actor said: 'I’d like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community.  

Jimmy thrill: Kimmel made Jeffrey's night by handing over the well-earned gong

Jimmy thrill: Kimmel made Jeffrey's night by handing over the well-earned gong

Emotional: He found it hard to speak when he thanked his wife Kasia Ostlun for all her support

Emotional: He found it hard to speak when he thanked his wife Kasia Ostlun for all her support

Staring into Spacey: All eyes were on Jeffrey with the possible exception of American Beauty star Kevin

Staring into Spacey: All eyes were on Jeffrey with the possible exception of American Beauty star Kevin

'Thank you for your patience, thank you for your courage, thank you for your stories, thank you for our inspiration, thank you for letting us be part of the change.' 

It has been a long hard road for Jeffrey, who was first nominated in 1993 for for his supporting role of Hank Kingsley in The Larry Sanders Show, which garnered three more nominations, but no win.

The father-of-five was also nominated twice, in 2004 and 2005, for his turn as George Bluth Sr. on Arrested Development, again always leaving empty handed.

And he explained how he believes his current role allowed him to perform for a greater good than mere personal glory however.

Just in case: The comedy veteran used all of his chops to get a laugh from the people waiting backstage

Just in case: The comedy veteran used all of his chops to get a laugh from the people waiting backstage

The sweet taste of success: He gave the prestigious paperweight a kiss after coming off stage

The sweet taste of success: He gave the prestigious paperweight a kiss after coming off stage

Hey now: The overjoyed star was first nominated for his turn as Hank on the Larry Sanders Show in 1993

Hey now: The overjoyed star was first nominated for his turn as Hank on the Larry Sanders Show in 1993

He said: 'I had a teacher who used to say, you know, "When you act, you have to act as if your life depends on it."

'And now I’ve been given the opportunity to act because people’s lives depend on it.'

He also paid tribute to his able sidekicks on the show who have brought the characters to vivid life.

Jeffrey said: 'I would like to thank this gorgeous cast. Every time and everywhere you rest your eye, there is genius.'

Jeffrey's achievement is all the more impressive as he beat off the likes of Shameless favourite William H. Macy, Louie's Louis C.K., The Last Man on Earth star Will Forte, House of Lies' Don Cheadle, Episodes actor Matt LeBlanc, and Black-Ish star Anthony Anderson. 

His rock: He said he would not have been standing there but for wife Kasia Ostlun's support

His rock: He said he would not have been standing there but for wife Kasia Ostlun's support

Able assistants: He thanked his fellow castmates for bringing the show's characters to life

Able assistants: He thanked his fellow castmates for bringing the show's characters to life

Signature role: While many will always think of him as Hank, his turn as Maura Pfefferman has secured his legacy

Signature role: While many will always think of him as Hank, his turn as Maura Pfefferman has secured his legacy

THE 67TH ANNUAL EMMY AWARDS WINNERS

Outstanding Drama Series 

WINNER: Game Of Thrones 

Better Call Saul 

Downton Abbey  

Homeland 

House Of Cards 

Mad Men 

Orange Is The New Black

 

Outstanding Comedy Series 

WINNER: Veep 

Louie 

Modern Family 

Parks And Recreation 

Silicon Valley 

Transparent 

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 

 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series 

WINNER: Jon Hamm, Mad Men 

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline 

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom  

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call 

Saul Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan 

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

 

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series 

WINNER: Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder 

Claire Danes, Homeland 

Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black 

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men 

Robin Wright, House of Cards

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama 

WINNER: Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black 

Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey 

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones 

Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones 

Christina Hendricks, Mad Men  

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama 

WINNER: Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones 

Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul 

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline 

Jim Carter, Downton Abbey  

Michael Kelly, House of Cards 

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy

WINNER: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Anthony Anderson, Blackish 

Louis CK, Louie 

Don Ceheadle, House of Lies 

Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth 

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes 

William H Macy, Shameless  

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy 

WINNER: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep 

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie 

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback  

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation 

Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer 

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy 

WINNER: Allison Janney, Mom 

Niecy Nash, Getting On 

Julie Bowen, Modern Family  

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live 

Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory 

Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent 

Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Anna Chlumsky, Veep

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy 

WINNER: Tony Hale, Veep 

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 

Adam Driver, Girls 

Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele 

Ty Burrell, Modern Family 

Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 

 

Outstanding Actress In A Mini-series Or Movie 

WINNER: Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge 

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Felicity Huffman, American Crime 

Queen Latifah, Bessie  

Emma Thompson, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Live from Lincoln Center 

 


Outstanding Actor in a Mini-series or Movie 

WINNER: Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge 

David Oyelowo, Nightingale 

Adrien Brody, Houdini 

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall 

Ricky Gervias, Derek

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie 

WINNER: Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge 

 Richard Cabral, American Crime 

Denise O’Hare, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Michael Kenneth Williams, Bessie  

Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie 

WINNER: Regina King, American Crime 

Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Mo’Nique, Bessie 

Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show 

Zoe Kazan, Olive Kitteridge

 

Outstanding Reality Program 

WINNER: The Voice 

 Amazing Race 

Dancing With The Stars 

Project Runway 

So You Think You Can Dance? 

Top Chef  

 

Outstanding Television Movie 

WINNER: Bessie, HBO 

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case, Acorn 

Grace of Monaco, Lifetime 

Hello Ladies: The Movie, HBO 

Killing Jesus, National Geographic Nightingale, HBO

 

Outstanding Variety Talk Series 

WINNER: The Daily Show 

The Colbert Report 

Jimmy Kimmel Live 

Last Week Tonight 

Late Show with David Letterman 

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

 

Outstanding Limited Series 

WINNER: Olive Kitteridge 

 American Crime American Horror Story: Freak Show 

The Honorable Woman  

Wolf Hall

 

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series 

WINNER: Inside Amy Schumer, Comedy Central 

Drunk History, Comedy Central 

Key & Peele, Comedy Central 

Portlandia, IFC 

Saturday Night Live, NBC

 

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

WINNER: Shark Tank, ABC

 Antiques Roadshow, PBS 

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Food Network

MythBusters, Discovery 

Property Brothers, HGTV  

Undercover Boss, CBS

 

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program 

WINNER: Deadliest Catch, Discovery 

Alaska: The Last Frontier, Discovery 

Intervention, A&E 

Million Dollar Listing New York, Bravo 

Naked & Afraid, Discovery Channel

Wahlburgers, A&E

 

Outstanding Reality Host 

WINNER: Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night 

Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars 

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway 

Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance 

Anthony Bourdain, The Taste

 

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